“Tea partiers” have it all wrong. They are after the government for being where it is not (health insurance ) and they are 
nowhere to be found when the government abuses its prerogatives. For instance, when New York State strip searches non-custodial fathers for child support payments.
New York State has recently introduced a new rule for the payment of child support: the time when non-custodial parent was sending child support checks to the custodial one, or to the Support Collection Unit, is over. Now, unless the non-custodial is self-employed, child support is to be deducted from the non-custodial paycheck. What’s the difference? First, New York State family laws could care less that you see your children. Second, what New York States cares about though is that you pay child support. And It does not trust you to do it yourself.
What if, by any chance, too much is garnished from your paycheck? If, like myself, you have a “credit” as a result of a change in a money order that did not take effect at the right time? Too bad for you, fellah. Child Support Information Line (1 800 846 0773) or Child Support Collection Unit on 151 West Broadway will tell you that this “credit” is not really a “credit”. If this amount is less than your monthly child support, you ain’t gonna get your money back. You know, in case; these non-custodial fathers cannot really be trusted. And you are not gonna pay less in child support either the next month either. Free money for the custodial mother parent. Justice, the New York State way.
And it comes without saying that if you are late, what you owe bears a whooping 9% interest rate on any arrears that you have, on whatever family court has decided you have to pay.
Came across this blog just surfing…..
I pay…..er…NYS TAKES my payments through the SCU in NYS, directly from my paycheck each week. A payment has never been missed in almost 10 years.
Every time there is a public holiday, I get a notice in the mail, with an attachment all in CAPS stating that I could go to jail, and that my tax return next year will be garnished since I did not make a payment this week. Apparently the public service workers at the SCU don’t have the mental capacity to process a payment that arrives a day late due to a holiday….I’ve been getting these notices at every holiday for the last decade.
That’s really a minor inconvenience since I’ve learned to ignore and throw away the notices. However, this year when I tried to file my tax return, I was denied the credit for non-custodial parent’s earned income credit (a small credit, usually $200-$300 but every bit helps!)–when I requested information regarding the denial I was referred to Schenectady County SCEU. The issue? There were 53 Fridays in the tax year but apparently I only made 52 payments within the year. Nevermind that there were only 52 pay periods for me, or that the payment would have arrived early 2011. Also, let’s completely disregard the fact that that means in 2011 I will make 53 payments for only 52 Fridays. I doubt my son’s mother will get an extra payment, and I highly doubt I’ll get a refund.
Schenectady County SCEU referred me to the fine print on my rejected credit claim from my NYS tax return which stated (paraphrasing)–I would need to schedule a hearing, if I am unaware of how to go about doing so I should contact a legal representative.
So there you go. Obstinate, and rather unintelligent, Schenectady County employees giving the shaft to an honest, hard-working, child-support-paying father. Thanks NYS. I hate you too.