They're using my child support to pay off the federal debt??

Question

I just got this thing in the mail today saying in accordance with the Deficit Reduction Act of 2004, Public Law 109-171 and chapter 425 of the Nevada revised statutes, ...they are taking $25 out of my child support if they help me collect at least $500 in a year? Some months I only get $45-80 dollars, so they want to take out $25? Is this true?
I'm on social security disability and barely make ends meet right now...

This isn't through a private company, this is through the welfare's child support enforcement program.

It says it waves the fee if you're on welfare or ever have been, but I'm not so looks like I'll have to pay it.

There should be a better way to pay of the federal deficit than to take money from single moms who don't collect much for their kids to begin with.

YES the federal gov't mandated it! Bush signed this (I am not one of those anti-Bush people, but that's another subject.)
I'm suprised I didn't hear about this before.

Answer 1

I found this article in todays paper. It says $25 a year.

Answer 2

That doesn't sound right, why would a Nevada statute garnish child support for the Federal deficit? That being said

A) The state of Nevada can pass any law it want regarding state legal proceedings (child support). If you don't like it talk to your represenative.

Now if The Federal Government has mandated this, that's a separate issue.. and far more serious.

Answer 3

The key word in your question is "help" you collect. Nowadays it is not uncommon for their to be administrative fees for government services.

It sounds to me like you are working with some sort of enforcement agency that helps you get the already ordered support which would fall into a category like I have set out above.

Think of it this way...without them you get 0$ a year. With them you get at least $475 a year(being the $500.00 less their $25.00 fee). That's $475.00 more than the alternative isn't it?

Agencies like these cost a lot to run. They have to pay the enforcement officers. The people who do searches to locate deadbeats need to be paid. It costs money to prepare and file garnishment orders and liens on properties. This all being done personally or with a lawyer would cost you a HECK of alot more than $25.00 a year.

Answer 4

Child support enforcement in the US is done so under the auspicious of the federal government. The feds dictate to each state the rules and regulations that they must operate under and the individual states have their own set of unique child support regs that conform or enhance fed regs.

The feds do give the states the right to collect fees on child support cases. It is a nominal fee, $25 to $50. There are exemptions for various situations that the state, if it charges must permit.

In your specific case I would make contact with your local child support agency as well as your state agency (that is the authority that your local agency operates under) and advise them of your specific situation and ask them for an exemption...you should be able to get one.

Answer 5

I have seen fees for Child Support payments (usually 2%) but the payer is required to pay it. Never heard of the payee being responsible for it. I agree that a call or letter to a Senator or State Rep is advisable. Contact the Child Support bureau first though.

Answer 6

Well, maybe the state debt. They in this case would be a state agency, bot a federal one. If you are using their services you need to pay for these services. If your ex pays directly to you then you won't have to pay them the $25 a month.

Also, if your ex is not paying support file contempt of court charges. If you don't enforce it, no one else will.

Answer 7

Big brother knows what is best for us plebs.

Answer 8

I call your congressman