Child support fee angers families

The charge is just one of several changes lawmakers approved last year.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of families who turned to federal and state governments for help in collecting child support payments will now have to pay more for the service.

Beginning Oct. 1, families will have to pay $25 annually when states have collected at least $500 on their behalf. Families that previously received public assistance will be exempted.

The $25 will help reduce the federal deficit and compensate the federal government and the states for providing a child support program. Two-thirds of the fee will go the federal government; one-third to the state.

For Claudia Fauntleroy of Petersburg, Va., the notice was akin to getting a $25 parking ticket in the mail. Her immediate reaction? “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Fauntleroy said she would be glad to pay the fee if it would help customers get better service, but she has spent too many hours waiting in lines for help she termed inadequate to think that will happen.

“I see this system and I really wonder why I’m paying this,” Fauntleroy said.

Bright side

State officials fought the assessment, which will get the federal government about $172 million over five years. Even as they lobby Congress to overturn the fee, state officials try to get parents to look on the bright side.

“The fee works out to $2 a month for those who are going to have to pay it,” said Nick Young, who oversees Virginia’s child support efforts. “I don’t think you could hire an accountant, a lawyer, a paralegal and a caseworker to work on your child support cases for $2 a month anywhere else.”

States get involved in child support cases when something has gone wrong and emotions run high — on both sides. The noncustodial parent has fallen behind in making payments, or refuses to pay child support. The state helps locate the noncustodial parent and it takes steps to ensure payment, such as by withholding money from a paycheck or an income tax refund.

“I think it’s fair to say that services provided are a good buy at $25, but of course, $25 to these families are maybe milk and Pampers for a week,” said Larry McKeown, who oversees South Carolina’s child support program.