RI’s Deadbeat Dads Owe $318M in Child Support
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Stephen Beale, GoLocalProv News Contributor
More than 30,000 deadbeat parents—overwhelmingly fathers—owe more than a quarter of a billion in child support payments, with nearly a third of the debt stemming from accrued interest, according to state data provided in response to a records request.
The data show that 33,224 non-custodial parents owe $318,366,682 in child support payments as of the start of this month. That includes $99.2 million in interest payments alone.
“It is very concerning to me,” said state Rep. Sherry Roberts, a West Greenwich Republican who filed legislation in the last session that would have made it a felony for deadbeat parents to lie about their income to avoid making the payments.
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State has 80,000 kids in the system
The numbers offer a glimpse of broken families in Rhode Island: 1,809 single parents with at least one child not yet 19 years old are owed $26.7 million. On the other side of the ledger, 22,775 fathers or non-custodial parents living in Rhode Island owe $148.5 million to a mother or custodial parent who has moved to another state.
For parents who never paid the debt continues to accumulate even after their children grow up: since 1999, $159.1 million in back payments have piled up for children who are 19 years or older.
In all, 79,936 children were enrolled in the state child support system, as of December 1, 2014, according to Rhode Island Kids Count.
That year, the percentage of cases in arrears in Rhode Island was 56.07 percent, beating the national average of 62.69, according to information provided by Sharon Santilli, the Associate Director, Office of Child Support Services in the Department of Human Services. Those rates have held nearly steady at both the state and national level for the previous four years.
Rhode Island collected $92.3 million in child support payments in 2014, up by $1.7 million over the previous year, according to Kids Count.
Good performance is rewarded with increased federal funding. In the past fiscal year, Rhode Island got $1.3 million in incentive funding, according to Santilli.
Range of consequences for delinquency
The state has a number of enforcement tools at its disposal to crack down on deadbeats. Those include everything from driver’s license suspensions and credit bureau reporting to intercepting winnings or payments from insurance companies, the lottery, and the IRS, according to Santilli. She said wage withholding is “one of the most effective enforcement tools.”
When necessary, criminal proceedings are also an option.
Her agency is constantly seeking to expand its toolkit. Next on the agenda: suspending professional licenses and electronic wage withholding, according to Santilli.
And Roberts hopes to add yet one more. This year, her first in the General Assembly, she said her bill was held for further study. When asked if she would re-file the bill again, Roberts responded: “Absolutely.”
Beyond cracking down on deliberate deadbeats, the state should help non-custodial parents who are legitimately struggling to make payments, according to Rachel Flum, a senior policy analyst at the Institute for Economic Progress, a local research center.
“Child support arrearages can build up when a parent becomes unemployed and we know that RI has suffered from high unemployment rates. To ensure that children receive the support to which they are entitled we need a comprehensive approach that not only provides the Office of Child Support Services with the resources they need, but that provides job training and job search for the low-skilled, unemployment non-custodial parents who are often unable to meet this important obligation,” Flum said.
Flum also praised the current enforcement efforts of the state agency. “The Office of Child Support Services has been very aggressive in implementing tools and strategies to ensure collection of child support,” she said. “The Office of Child Support Services, which has the largest caseloads in New England, is tremendously efficient given their resources.”
For example, she pointed to the establishment of an automated collections process which withdraws child support payments from earnings, lottery winnings, or tax refunds.
Strain on social services
A Kids Count spokeswoman noted that child support is an important metric covered in the group’s annual Factbook.
“The receipt of child support payments can significantly improve the economic well-being of a child growing up in a family with a non-resident parent. In 2011, child support lifted more than 500,000 U.S. children out of poverty,” the 2015 edition notes.
It adds: “Custodial parents who receive steady child support payments are less likely to rely on public assistance programs and more likely to find work faster and stay employed longer than those who do not.”
Some single parents receive both child support and public assistance. About a tenth of all kids in the state child support system are also recipients of one or more benefits through the state welfare program, known as Rhode Island Works. In 2014, the state collected more $4.6 million in payments for these children, according to Kids Count.
“Child Support is the safety net for these families and represents, on average, one third of the family’s monthly income.”
Parents in RI Works are actually required to participate in the child support program in order to be eligible for welfare benefits. The typical monthly child support check for one of these parents is $250, according to Kids Count. But only $50 of that goes to the parent. The rest is split between the federal and state governments as reimbursement for cash benefits that are paid out, according to Santilli. (The state receives 34 percent, with the rest going to federal authorities, according to Santilli.)
That means that children and their single parents aren’t the only ones who suffer when the other parent doesn’t pay support. Payments that are late or never mean a loss in potential reimbursement money, putting another potential strain on social services, the data indicates.
Currently, $87.8 million in child support is owed for mothers—or custodial fathers—who receive one or more welfare benefits through the state.
Tips on potential corruption at the local or state level, misspending, abuse of power, and other issues of public interest can be sent to [email protected]. Follow Stephen Beale on Twitter @bealenews
Related Slideshow: Child Support Debt in RI
Below is a breakdown of delinquent child support payments in Rhode Island. Payments are categorized according to regular payments that are owed and interest that has accrued on those late payments. Two types of recipients are also identified: those on a welfare program and those that are not. Welfare recipients receive only a fraction of child support payments. The remainder is used to reimburse the state and federal government. Data are separated into pre- and post-1999 figures because of a change in record-keeping made that year. Debts for children who have since reached adult age are also included. Figures are current as of July 1, 2015 and include late payments back to 1975. Data were provided by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services in response to a public records request.
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# of Arrears Orders
(For Children Under 19)
In State: 576
Out of State: 13,476
Total: 14,052
Note: An arrears order refers to any number of enforcement actions, including but not limited to a 10 percent interest charge and a court-ordered payment.
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# of Arrears Orders
(Children Now Over 19)
Figures for Before 1999
In State: 46
Out of State: 339
Total: 385
Note: An arrears order refers to any number of enforcement actions, including but not limited to a 10 percent interest charge and a court-ordered payment.
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# of Arrears Orders
(Children Now Over 19)
Figures for After 1999
In State: 592
Out of State: 5,378
Total: 5,970
Note: An arrears order refers to any number of enforcement actions, including but not limited to a 10 percent interest charge and a court-ordered payment.
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# Cases in Arrears
(Children Now Over 19)
In State: 1,809
Out of State: 22,775
Total: 24,584
Note: A case can go into arrears as soon as 30 days after a payment has been missed.
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# Cases in Arrears
(Children Now Over 19)
Figures for Before 1999
In State: 73
Out of State: 485
Total: 558
Note: A case can go into arrears as soon as 30 days after a payment has been missed.
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# Cases in Arrears
(Children Now Over 19)
Figures for After 1999
In State: 1,142
Out of State: 6,940
Total: 8,082
Note: A case can go into arrears as soon as 30 days after a payment has been missed.
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Interest Due
Due to Welfare Recipients (with Children Under 19)
In State: $1,056,604
Out of State: $8,238,251
Total: $9,294,856
Note: Here ‘welfare’ is used to refer to recipients who are also beneficiaries of the Rhode Island Works program, which provides cash assistance, child care services, job training, food stamps and other services to low-income individuals and families. Recipients who are also in Rhode Island Works receive $50 of the child support payment. The rest of the payment is used to reimburse the state and federal government for the social services provided to the single parent.
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Interest Due
Due to Welfare Recipients (with Children Now Over 19)
Figures for Before 1999
In State: $275,244
Out of State: $1,246,895
Total: $1,522,140
Note: Here ‘welfare’ is used to refer to recipients who are also beneficiaries of the Rhode Island Works program, which provides cash assistance, child care services, job training, food stamps and other services to low-income individuals and families. Recipients who are also in Rhode Island Works receive $50 of the child support payment. The rest of the payment is used to reimburse the state and federal government for the social services provided to the single parent.
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Interest Due
Due to Welfare Recipients (with Children Now Over 19)
Figures for After 1999
In State: $4,884,882
Out of State: $16,411,818
Total: $21,296,700
Note: Here ‘welfare’ is used to refer to recipients who are also beneficiaries of the Rhode Island Works program, which provides cash assistance, child care services, job training, food stamps and other services to low-income individuals and families. Recipients who are also in Rhode Island Works receive $50 of the child support payment. The rest of the payment is used to reimburse the state and federal government for the social services provided to the single parent.
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Regular Payments Owed
To Welfare Recipients (with Children Under 19)
In State: $2,721,038
Out of State: $21,275,837
Total: $23,996,875
Note: Here ‘welfare’ is used to refer to recipients who are also beneficiaries of the Rhode Island Works program, which provides cash assistance, child care services, job training, food stamps and other services to low-income individuals and families. Recipients who are also in Rhode Island Works receive $50 of the child support payment. The rest of the payment is used to reimburse the state and federal government for the social services provided to the single parent.
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Regular Payments Owed
To Welfare Recipients (with children Now Over 19)
Figures for Before 1999
In State: $368,408
Out of State: $2,009,256
Total: $2,377,664
Note: Here ‘welfare’ is used to refer to recipients who are also beneficiaries of the Rhode Island Works program, which provides cash assistance, child care services, job training, food stamps and other services to low-income individuals and families. Recipients who are also in Rhode Island Works receive $50 of the child support payment. The rest of the payment is used to reimburse the state and federal government for the social services provided to the single parent.
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Regular Payments Owed
To Welfare Recipients (with Children Now Over 19)
Figures for After 1999
In State: $5,178,076
Out of State: $24,219,962
Total: $29,398,039
Note: Here ‘welfare’ is used to refer to recipients who are also beneficiaries of the Rhode Island Works program, which provides cash assistance, child care services, job training, food stamps and other services to low-income individuals and families. Recipients who are also in Rhode Island Works receive $50 of the child support payment. The rest of the payment is used to reimburse the state and federal government for the social services provided to the single parent.
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Interest Owed
To Non-Welfare Recipients (with Children Under 19)
In State: $5,637,921
Out of State: $23,863,079
Total: $29,501,001
Note: Here ‘welfare’ is used to refer to recipients who are also beneficiaries of the Rhode Island Works program, which provides cash assistance, child care services, job training, food stamps and other services to low-income individuals and families. Recipients who are also in Rhode Island Works receive $50 of the child support payment. The rest of the payment is used to reimburse the state and federal government for the social services provided to the single parent.
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Interest Owed
To Non-Welfare Recipients (with Children Now Over 19)
Figures for Before 1999
In State: $540,980
Out of State: $640,983
Total: $1,181,964
Note: Here ‘welfare’ is used to refer to recipients who are also beneficiaries of the Rhode Island Works program, which provides cash assistance, child care services, job training, food stamps and other services to low-income individuals and families. Recipients who are also in Rhode Island Works receive $50 of the child support payment. The rest of the payment is used to reimburse the state and federal government for the social services provided to the single parent.
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Interest Owed
To Non-Welfare Recipients (With Children Now Over 19)
Figures for After 1999
In State: $10,490,892
Out of State: $25,953,085
Total: $36,443,978
Note: Here ‘welfare’ is used to refer to recipients who are also beneficiaries of the Rhode Island Works program, which provides cash assistance, child care services, job training, food stamps and other services to low-income individuals and families. Recipients who are also in Rhode Island Works receive $50 of the child support payment. The rest of the payment is used to reimburse the state and federal government for the social services provided to the single parent.
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Regular Payments Owed
To Non-Welfare Recipients (with Children Under 19)
In State: $17,332,346
Out of State: $95,176,125
Total: $112,508,471
Note: Here ‘welfare’ is used to refer to recipients who are also beneficiaries of the Rhode Island Works program, which provides cash assistance, child care services, job training, food stamps and other services to low-income individuals and families. Recipients who are also in Rhode Island Works receive $50 of the child support payment. The rest of the payment is used to reimburse the state and federal government for the social services provided to the single parent.
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Regular Payments Owed
To Non-Welfare Recipients (with Children Now Over 19)
Figures for Before 1999
In State: $209,337
Out of State: $445,955
Total: $655,292
Note: Here ‘welfare’ is used to refer to recipients who are also beneficiaries of the Rhode Island Works program, which provides cash assistance, child care services, job training, food stamps and other services to low-income individuals and families. Recipients who are also in Rhode Island Works receive $50 of the child support payment. The rest of the payment is used to reimburse the state and federal government for the social services provided to the single parent.
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Regular Payments Owed
To Non-Welfare Recipients (With Children Now Over 19)
Figures for After 1999
In State: $10,714,294
Out of State: $39,475,403
Total: $50,189,698
Note: Here ‘welfare’ is used to refer to recipients who are also beneficiaries of the Rhode Island Works program, which provides cash assistance, child care services, job training, food stamps and other services to low-income individuals and families. Recipients who are also in Rhode Island Works receive $50 of the child support payment. The rest of the payment is used to reimburse the state and federal government for the social services provided to the single parent.
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Total Interest Owed
(For Children Under 19)
In State: $6,694,526
Out of State: $32,101,330
Total: $38,795,857
Note: The total is the sum of amounts owed to both welfare and non-welfare recipients.
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Total Interest Owed
(Children Now Over 19)
Figures for Before 1999
In State: $816,225
Out of State: $1,887,879
Total: $2,704,104
Note: The total is the sum of amounts owed to both welfare and non-welfare recipients.
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Total Interest Owed
(Children Now Over 19)
Figures for After 1999
In State: $15,375,775
Out of State: $42,364,903
Total: $57,740,678
Note: The total is the sum of amounts owed to both welfare and non-welfare recipients.
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Total Regular Pay Owed
(For Children Under 19)
In State: $20,053,384
Out of State: $116,451,963
Total: $136,505,347
Note: The total is the sum of amounts owed to both welfare and non-welfare recipients.
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Total Regular Pay Owed
(Children Now Over 19)
Figures for Before 1999
In State: $577,745
Out of State: $2,455,211
Total: $3,032,956
Note: The total is the sum of amounts owed to both welfare and non-welfare recipients.
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Total Regular Pay Owed
(Children Now Over 19)
Figures for After 1999
In State: $15,892,371
Out of State: $63,695,366
Total: $79,587,738
Note: The total is the sum of amounts owed to both welfare and non-welfare recipients.
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Totals Cases and Debt
Total Interest Owed: $99,240,640
Total Regular Payments Owed: $219,126,042
Grant Total: $318,366,682
Total Number of Cases: 33,224
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