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[marilyn.monroe]

'Job losses, pay cuts push more parents to seek lower payments'


Hopefully these parents on unemployment who have sought a reduction in child support will put more time into caring for their children.
Hopefully the ones who have exhausted their unemployment will get jobs and pay what they can. I know going to work in fast food or something isn't a dream job, but they have kids to support.

"The children's needs don't go away because the job did."

http://www.detnews.com/article/20091102/METRO/911020336/1409/METRO

[livewire]

"The children's needs don't go away because the job did."

That's true, but when a father has lost his income, it's understandable that he can't always pay the same amount he has been.  If the marriage was still intact, the loss of income would be the same.  Child support is not just for the kids.  It goes to the other parent - usually the mother, and she uses it for whatever she wants. 

I have seen fathers living in a $200 a month room, eating ramen noodles every night, paying ridiculous amounts of child support, while the mother drives a new car, lives in a nice big house, and has all the latest "toys".  That is wrong.

[Kingsley]

That's true, but when a father has lost his income, it's understandable that he can't always pay the same amount he has been.  If the marriage was still intact, the loss of income would be the same.  Child support is not just for the kids.  It goes to the other parent - usually the mother, and she uses it for whatever she wants. 

I have seen fathers living in a $200 a month room, eating ramen noodles every night, paying ridiculous amounts of child support, while the mother drives a new car, lives in a nice big house, and has all the latest "toys".  That is wrong.

I have to agree to your comments. It would be nice if there were a system where the children received all of the support, since many times the parent receiving the support spends it on themselves. It won't happen soon enough though.

[saraworley23]

I totally agree!! What most dads do not realize is that they can collect unemployment and get a part time job at the same time. But no most of them, or the ones that I know would rather playing video games all night and sleep in all day and get paid by the state instead of going out and working for what they want and to work for their children. I swear some parents are so naive and just let their children think that it is okay for them not to do jack and you wonder why kids all always dropping out of high school and living with their parents well into their 30s. Us women may be getting the child support but a responsible mother is working her tail end off to support and take care of her children everyday all day and doesn't have a life to be doing whatever she wants whenever she wants. I think that people need to open their eyes and most of them need to grow up and maybe if they were responsible and did what they were suppose to they wouldn't be in a child support situation.

[brittany]

Well it's not only dads who have to pay support. I've seen moms who are worse at paying it than dads because they think they are "above it" or something.

[livewire]

Well it's not only dads who have to pay support. I've seen moms who are worse at paying it than dads because they think they are "above it" or something.

Very true, Brittany.

I'm so sick and tired of people making the dads out as the bad guys.  If the dad has custody, and the mom makes more money, she will be paying support.  But the courts favor the moms, in my opinion, when it comes to deciding how much to pay.  I'm speaking from experience.

[Fluffy Bunnies]

That's true, but when a father has lost his income, it's understandable that he can't always pay the same amount he has been.  If the marriage was still intact, the loss of income would be the same.  Child support is not just for the kids.  It goes to the other parent - usually the mother, and she uses it for whatever she wants. 

I have seen fathers living in a $200 a month room, eating ramen noodles every night, paying ridiculous amounts of child support, while the mother drives a new car, lives in a nice big house, and has all the latest "toys".  That is wrong.

Lucky SOB got to eat Ramen Noodles?

I remember when I was paying $500 a month in child support, my gross was $2100 a month, and I was taking home about $1000 a month.

The Friend of the court made it up to me years later though. After I got the kids, they set it up so she paid me $25 a month.

I still have a $0.33 check that they sent me

[Paula Wethington]

Great link & discussion.

Here's the Monroe on a Budget tips for families who are dealing with late or shorted child support checks:

http://www.blogsmonroe.com/budget/2009/11/when-child-support-and-joblessness-collided/

[Collegekid]

I have to agree to your comments. It would be nice if there were a system where the children received all of the support, since many times the parent receiving the support spends it on themselves. It won't happen soon enough though.

That's a sticky issue though. How do you decide if food/electric/gas etc belongs to one person or another in the same house?

I agree in principle, but at the same time I find it tough to implement. I'm ok with the support money going into the 'general' house fund as long as the kids are well taken care of within the household budget.

[Collegekid]

I totally agree!! What most dads do not realize is that they can collect unemployment and get a part time job at the same time. But no most of them, or the ones that I know would rather playing video games all night and sleep in all day and get paid by the state instead of going out and working for what they want and to work for their children. I swear some parents are so naive and just let their children think that it is okay for them not to do jack and you wonder why kids all always dropping out of high school and living with their parents well into their 30s. Us women may be getting the child support but a responsible mother is working her tail end off to support and take care of her children everyday all day and doesn't have a life to be doing whatever she wants whenever she wants. I think that people need to open their eyes and most of them need to grow up and maybe if they were responsible and did what they were suppose to they wouldn't be in a child support situation.

This is not a well thought out post at all. Seems like you have an issue with an ex of your own, and are projecting on all men.

[MM1]

Leaving gender out of it, I've seen (and see) too many "Child Support Providers" who cry NO MONEY, who also smoke 2 - 3 packs of cigarettes a day ($5 - $10 / day = $150/mo + -@ 1 pack) and still find the way to relax with (and cry into) a few beers every day with friends at the local tavern.  Last time I checked, that's not free either. 

This includes men AND women. 

Kids are not only the last thing on the priority list.    All too often, they're not even ON the list.

 


   

 

[NewDawn]

When a parents income goes down he/she can notify the FOC and file for lower support. At least that is what the rules said.(That doesn't mean the child needs less money, just that they have to live on less) My brother was off work last winter for 4 months. He immediately went to FOC and told them that he was laid off and going on unemployment. He expected a reduction of his $175.00 a week payment.
But he was told NO reduction by his caseworker.
So...he then went to the front window and asked for
a referee appointment, he got an appt. pretty quick and his support was lowered temporarily. He just needed to talk to the right person. He still was expected to keep the health insurance paid for the child and pay for any prescription co-pays which he did, but barely.