The Child Support Scam

MensNewsDaily.com ^ | April 24, 2004 | Roger F. Gay

[RogerFGay]

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[moehoward]

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[Gabz]

It is a fundamental consideration in setting child support amounts properly, that the amounts are based on what parents are able to provide. When circumstances change, such as loss of employment, timely adjustments need to be made to the amounts they are ordered to pay, so that uncollectable debts don't pile up – as they do now – giving the impression that more collection agents are needed. Custodial parents need to adjust their budgets and spending habits just like married couples and single adults would under similar circumstances. Just because a mother is divorced, doesn't guarantee a particular standard of living.

It won't happen..............it is very rare the systems will adjust payments down when the support paying parent has a change in financial status.

I have no dog in this fight, I have just watched it happen to many people that I know.

[RogerFGay]

It won't happen..............it is very rare the systems will adjust payments down when the support paying parent has a change in financial status.

I know it's not being done. The point is that it should be. Sweden tried the US style reforms, and eventualy abandoned them because it overwhelmed their state collection system, and they didn't see good reason for it. The "backlash" from the experience is that Sweden now has presumptive joint custody and is revamping its welfare and what is effectively the equivalent of dependent tax credits so that everything is shared between mothers and fathers. Sweden Backs Off U.S.-Style Child Support Reforms: Government Investigation Reveals Fundamental Flaws

[cyborg]

If someone does not want the responsibility of children then don't have any sex. I'm amazed at people men AND women (because I know one or two who pay) who complain about child support.

[paulsy]

"If someone does not want the responsibility of children then don't have any sex."

People don't usually expect to end up divorced.

[cyborg]

Even after people are divorced, children are still their responsibility.

[Gabz]

I agree, it should be done.

All the system here does is create more bureaucracies and government jobs...........but ignores the true victims of the system..........the children.

Because there are cases of both the custodial and/or non-custodial parent abusing the system, those that don't are the ones that suffer.

[Gabz]

While I understand your point, and agree in regard to unmarried people, it is just not always reality.

There are many times when divorce is actually in the best interest of the children of the marriage.

I also know both men and women that pay childl support, some complain others don't, but many of the complaints are legitimate.

[cyborg]

I'm just sorry for the children who have to watch parents break up,etc. It's sad. I wonder if there is some way to trim down the government system and make it more 'effective'. I've always found 'family court' odd but maybe necessary. Oh well.

[ladyjane]

It's not the system that creates the bureaucracies and government jobs - it's the irresponsible parents who fail to take care of the children they've created. It's sad all the way around. The children always suffer. The custodial parent frequently suffers because they see their child doing without. Friends of the non-custodial parent suffer too. They have to listen to the rantings of the person who feels the payments are unfair.

[Gabz]

It's very sad.

It's bad enough for what the kids go through during the break up......but for it to continue afterwards is in many cases the fault of the system and not the parents.

The vast majority of those paying support do want to support their children....it's the few deadbeats that have created the monster the system has become today which hurts the ones that are being responsible.

[cyborg]

Divorce is very bizarre. I am particularly upset at women who use the system to get back at men. Makes us girls look bad and guys don't want to get married again. But you're right... a lot of things go on in the family court that's more depressing than the actual divorce.

[Gabz]

it's the irresponsible parents who fail to take care of the children they've created.

The problem is that those are actually a minority, and are causing the problems for the vast majority who do wish to take care of their children.

Because of the minority of the deadbeats there are now mandatory wage garnishes on all support paying parents in some states. And if for some reason they lose their jobs....their unemployment checks are garnished....for the same amount as when they had a job, even though we all know that unemployment is often no where near enough to cover basic necessities.

It's a vicious cycle.

[randog]

As horrible and corrupt as the child support system is, I think it should stay in place for one reason--to encourage men to use birth control.

[Gabz]

I know exactly what you mean. But it's not just women that abuse the system, I've seen men do it as well. But men don't generally get away with it as easily as the women do.

I know several men that even refuse to date because they got so badly burnt by the system.

I know one man in particular that decided he would try to get even with the system for abusing him after his divorce from one wife........by trying to abuse the system when getting divorced from the next wife....it back fired on him and he became a bit of a laughing stock in the rather close knit area he lived, because everyone knew about it.

I know the story, because I was the next wife!!!!! There were no children involved in my divorce, and so some 16 or so years later I can laugh about his pathetic attempt to get me to support him...............

[ikka]

My brother went through some of this. The "mother" shacked up with guy who left his own wife, then sexually molested the 15-year old daughter. The "mother" is still with this creep. And he had to pay child support all through this sordid episode.

[DeaconBenjamin]

There generally are not a lot of timely adjustments either upward or downward.

I work for Child Support Enforcement, and I see a lot of cases where the noncustodial parents are still paying the amount ordered by the court 10, 12, 15 years ago. In fact, I advise noncustodial parents that, if they keep paying regularly, it is far more likely than not that they will not see an increase in their child support obligation. Nonpayers get priority over custodial parents seeking an increase. But if they stop paying, we will reset the child support based upon their current income. Which can be lower, but is usually higher.

[clyde asbury]

When in doubt, blame the man.

Women, of course, aren't responsible for their own birth control.