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CHILD SUPPORT

The child support issue rages on. Last week Issues reported: "Issues also received a variety of complaints about the system. Complaints that include: courts being far more tolerant towards women who owe child support than the system is to men; monies continuously being withdrawn from support paying parent well after payments have been deemed to stop; payments taken from support paying parent but not reaching payee; and non-returns of overpayment or partial returns of overpayment to support paying parent. Each of the received complaints involved the Erie County, New York Child Support Enforcement Unit. These complaints appear indicative of a dysfunctional entity; and offer the opinion that the New York State Child Support Enforcement Unit is one of the most unorganized, inefficient, troublesome entities in all of this country."

This week Issues revisits the the back child support case we have been following. We have learned first-hand what happens to support paying parents once they enter this system.

It is the opinion of Issues that this system meant to protect the children and keep them from falling into poverty; instead wastes taxpayer money, creates animosity between the parents, and as a result breaks down every piece of the family unit that had been left intact within this country, severing the emotional stability of the children the laws were meant to protect.

THIS WEEK'S DEBATE

During the moth of May Issues will be debating the matter of child support, back child support, the new child support laws, and the extremely dysfunctional system we refer to as The Child Support Collection Unit.

PUNISHED FOR WORKING TWO JOBS!

Bonnie a single female from New York, found herself in a dilemma for working two jobs! In order to meet life's necessities, Bonnie finds it necessicary to work two jobs. A work slow-down necessitated a cut back from five to three days at her job. A "shared work" agreement with the Department of Labor; Unemployment Division, provided a means for persons affected by the slowdown to collect unemployment. This agreement however, does not apply to those working a second job. Similar rules apply for those who are forced to collect New York State disability where two jobs are involved.

Bonnie feels that the laws of the state are meant to "PUNISHED" those who try to help themselves.

Issues is presently investigating Bonnie's problems in hopes of locating a solution. In the meantime, we urged all New York State residents to contact their local lawmakers regarding the penalty for working two jobs. Remember Bonnie could have chosen to join the ranks of Social Services Recipients, instead of helping herself. The welfare reform act is meant to make people and families self-sufficient, yet those who attempt to do just that without relying on the welfare system are penalized for their attempts.