States taking child support from poor mothers

[dajoki]

Mothers Scrimp as States Take Child Support
By ERIK ECKHOLM
Published: December 1, 2007
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/01/us/01child.html?_r=1&ex=1354251600&en=998915fd20e432d6&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

MILWAUKEE — The collection of child support from absent fathers is failing to help many of the poorest families, in part because the government uses fathers’ payments largely to recoup welfare costs rather than passing on the money to mothers and children.

Close to half the states pass along none of collected child support to families on welfare, while most others pay only $50 a month to a custodial parent, usually the mother, even though the father may be paying hundreds of dollars each month.

Critics say using child support to repay welfare costs harms children instead of helping them, contradicting the national goal of strengthening families, and is a flaw in the generally lauded national campaign to increase collections.

Karla Hart, a struggling mother of four here, held out her monthly statement from the county child-support office.

Paid by the father: $229.40.

Amount deducted to repay federal costs of welfare: $132.18.

Her share: $97.22. “That extra money was a bill I could pay,” said Ms. Hart, 56, who has lupus and other serious ailments but against her doctor’s advice has started working at a day care center, in a failing effort to achieve solvency.

[Gormy Cuss]

1. I replied to this topic in GD

Bottom line, passing through part of the support is a good thing. The only policy discussion should be how much.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2383663&mesg_id=2383821