Connecticut Governor Rescinds Child Support Fee
Wednesday / September 26, 2007
Governor Rell overturned the decision of the
Department of Social Services to charge custodial
parents.
We've written before about the new $25
fee to be charged each year, beginning October
1, 2007, for collection of child support. The
fee is imposed by the federal Deficit Reduction
Act of 2005. The money goes to the federal
government. The purpose of the fee is to help
reduce the federal deficit.
Under the law, the $25 fee can be subtracted from child support recovered, paid by the noncustodial parent, or paid by the state. This fall, single parents around the country began receiving letters informing them that their states had opted to take the $25 out of child support collected.
As we noted, these letters have been greeted with shock and amazement. But Connecticut's governor has done the right thing. On Monday, September 24, 2007, courant.com reported that the Department of Social Services had decided to pass the fee along to the custodial parents. No sooner than the story hit, Governor Rell overruled the Department of Social Services and announced that the state would pay. The Department deserved today's courant.com editorial entitled "What Was DSS Thinking?"
The editorial goes on to say that most other states have elected to pay the fee directly to the federal government rather than force custodial parents to pay. We believe that statement is incorrect. Based on the number of news stories about the fee, we think it's the other way around.
Under the law, the $25 fee can be subtracted from child support recovered, paid by the noncustodial parent, or paid by the state. This fall, single parents around the country began receiving letters informing them that their states had opted to take the $25 out of child support collected.
As we noted, these letters have been greeted with shock and amazement. But Connecticut's governor has done the right thing. On Monday, September 24, 2007, courant.com reported that the Department of Social Services had decided to pass the fee along to the custodial parents. No sooner than the story hit, Governor Rell overruled the Department of Social Services and announced that the state would pay. The Department deserved today's courant.com editorial entitled "What Was DSS Thinking?"
The editorial goes on to say that most other states have elected to pay the fee directly to the federal government rather than force custodial parents to pay. We believe that statement is incorrect. Based on the number of news stories about the fee, we think it's the other way around.
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