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As a human resources professional, I have had the opportunity to come face to face with two different types of child support payers....responsible payers and what I call the "under the radar" irresponsible non-payers. Under the radar means, people who are hired, work for about 6-8 weeks, then voluntarily quit without any explanation and then sure enough here comes the court order to deduct child support within days of them quitting.

Responsible payers are those who do not get fair treatment from so many sources. Many people who's wages are garnished for child support payments fall into the mid to low income earnings bracket. These people are forced to eck a lifestyle out of what is considered to be well below poverty level with the remaining earnings. I know what you are thinking..."get a better job" or get a second job. Better jobs are not always an option due to many factors, for example, not qualified, want to keep seniority and benefits. There no tax breaks either, the dependent cannot be claimed by these responsible taxpayers. Claiming the maximum exemptions on their W-4 does not give them any breaks in the long run as they will end up owing taxes at the end of the year. Considering the amount of net pay, there is no money left to pay a $2k-$4k tax bill.

Then there is the part of the order that requires employers to enroll the dependent/s in the company's group health insurance plan, whether the employee opted to enroll or not. This means leads to another deduction from the employees paycheck for the premiums.

If a person fails to comply to the court order, their driver's license is suspended. Oh my goodness, what a monster just this alone is creating unlicensed drivers, uninsured and unregistered vehicles.

On top of all of this, these people are expected to participate in the parenting of the dependents without prejudice. Unfortunately, many of these people are estranged from the custodial parent, which has lead to the court order in the first place. I have had so many employees tell me, " I give money to her all the time, I pay for clothes, shoes, food etc", for my kids and now she does this to me. So the estrangement gap widens, allowing the child/ren to fall right in. Children do not understand any of this maddness.

Mandatory child support payments via wage garnishments has created dysfuncitional citizens. What a monster!!!! I know many parents who are good citizens, hardworking and devoted to their children, who feel so unfairly treated by the system. Of course, they are responsible for the consequences of their actions but where is there any fair breaks for these people. Surely, this treatment is unconstitutional and violates these peoples right to make a decent living and have the ability without prejudice to contribute to the upbringing of their child/dren. Tell me what is fair about a person having to live below the poverty level because of child support wage garnishments and people who have a brand new car with a car note, renting with a housing subsidy, food stamps, new clothes, shoes, nails and hair done regularly and are collecting welfare and child support payments. The responsible payers are in many circumstances, forced to live with family or friends because they cannot afford to live on their own. Then they have to spend time with their child/ren with a smile on their face and act like nothing is wrong - in the best interest of the child.

We are raising a generation of children who are being taught resentment, hatred and hostility towards the one person they are supposed to trust, love and feel comfortable with. Our world is full of so much hostility, resentment and hatred, look at the daily headlines. What is happening to good old fashioned morals and values?

GotALotToSay's Blog

Unfair treatment of child support payers

GotALotToSay

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