The Federal Office of Child Support in the Preliminary Statistics for 2000 reports that over $83 billion in accumulated unpaid support is due to almost 20 million children in the United States. The government child support agency collection rate, based on the percentage of cases receiving one or more payments in an entire year, was reported at 42%. In truth, only about 25% of total cases receive total payments.
If you are reading this I am sure that you know exactly how a family’s budget can be quickly and seriously threatened when lapses or withholding of payment occurs. Frustration over finances often carries over into the family life and children often suffer. In fact, 50% of all white children, 60% of Hispanic children, and 70% of black children growing up in single parent households, who do not receive support from both parents, live at or below poverty level. Children who receive child support are more likely to have contact with both parents, have better grade point averages, significantly better test scores, fewer behavior problems and stay in school longer.
This is a serious thing people! Kids are suffering and many custodial parents have gone years with no help and no hope of locating the non-custodial parent. Most do not even realize that interest can be applied to delinquent child support. Think about those facts.