AMY COVEN INVESTIGATES THAT THE
AGENCY IS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO
COLLECT BACK PAYMENTS.
I HAVE TWO BOYS.
THEY ARE HUMANS.
AMY: ALICIA HOUSTON CALLS
HERSELF A SQUEAKY WHEEL.
SHE HAS BEEN FIGHTING FOR BACK
CHILD SUPPORT SINCE 2012.
>> I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU ARE
REALLY GOOD AT MATH THAT IT IS
NEAR $5,000.
AMY: THE TARGET IS NOT THE
FATHER OF HER TWO BOYS, IT IS
THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, THE
DIVISION OF CHILD SUPPORT
SERVICES.
>> IF SOMEONE IS NOT PAYING
CHILD SUPPORT, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING TO ENFORCE IT?
YOU ARE OFFERING A SERVICE.
YOU SAY YOU WILL HELP OBTAIN
ORDERS.
>> WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYWHERE.
THEY ARE FAIRLY INEFFECTIVE.
AMY: SHE HAS PRACTICED FAMILY
LAW IN NEW HAMPSHIRE FOR OVER 15
YEARS.
SHE ALSO -- SHE OFTEN ADVISES
HER CLIENTS TO AVOID GOING
THROUGH THE STATE TO GET
SUPPORT.
>> I HAVE SEEN IT TAKE THEM 7-8
MONTHS.
TO START PROCESSING PAYMENTS.
AMY: LEGAL EXPERTS AGREE, IT IS
THE PARENTS WHO WORK OUTSIDE OF
CORPORATE STRUCTURE LIKE
SUBCONTRACTORS OR THE
SELF-EMPLOYED THAT ARE THE
HARDEST ENFORCEMENT CASES.
>> IF YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO DOES
NOT HAVE AN EMPLOYER THAT GIVES
THEM A PAYCHECK, AND YOU DO NOT
HAVE A WAY TO DO A WAGE
ASSIGNMENT.
AMY: THE DIVISION OF CHILD
SUPPORT DECLINED MULTIPLE
REQUESTS FOR INTERVIEWS.
BUT PROVIDED THE STATISTICS.
38,005 HUNDRED 51 FAMILIES IN
NEW HAMPSHIRE CURRENTLY RECEIVE
CHILD SUPPORT.
THE AGENCY CURRENTLY DISTRIBUTES
$84 MILLION IN CHILD SUPPORT.
IT REPORTED $225 MILLION AS OWED
TO CUSTODIAL PARENTS IN BACK
CHILD SUPPORT.
>> WHY SHOULD A CUSTODIAL PARENT
HAVE TO FIGHT SO HARD?
IT IS THEIR INABILITY TO
ADEQUATELY MAN THE SYSTEM AND
COVER ALL OF THE CASES.
AMY: MARYLAND MAHONEY HAS
PRACTICED FAMILY LAW IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE FOR DECADES AND SHE
SAYS THEY ARE OVERWHELMED AND
UNDER RESOURCED.
VIA E-MAIL, THE STATE TELLS US
THAT THERE ARE 84 CASEWORKERS.
THE DIVISION GETS MOST OF ITS
FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
FOR EVERY ONE DOLLAR THAT A
STATE SPENDS ON ITS CHILD
SUPPORT PROGRAM, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT REIMBURSES IT $.66.
BUT NORTH OF $50 MILLION
ANNUALLY IS NOT ENOUGH TO
EFFECTIVELY ENFORCE CHILD
SUPPORT.
ARE WE LETTING OUR KIDS DOWN IN
THIS STATE?
YOU WANT MY ANSWER?
YES, WE ARE.
YES, AND ON ALL FRONTS.
BECAUSE WE ARE SO CONCERNED
ABOUT NOT SPENDING ANY MONEY --
AM WE COMPARED CHILD-SUPPORT
ARREARAGES TO OTHER STATES WITH
SIMILAR POPULATIONS.
NEW HAMPSHIRE AVERAGES $8,000
OWED WHICH IS BETTER THAN MAINE
WHICH IS NEARLY $10,000 A CASE
THAT WORST THEN MONTANA.
-- BUT WORSE THAN MONTANA.
SHE SAYS IT WILL BE 20 YEARS
BEFORE THE BACK SUPPORT IS PAID
OFF AND SHE WANTS THE STATE TO
BE MORE AGGRESSIVE.
>> I KEPT ASKING THEM -- EVERY
TIME YOU GO TO COURT, SHOULDN'T
YOU BE ASKING FOR THE FULL
AMOUNT?
THAT IS WHAT IS OWED TO THE
CASE.
IT DOES NOT MATTER IF IT IS ONE
DOLLAR.
THE FULL AMOUNT OWED TO THE CASE
IS WHAT IS OWED TO THE CHILDREN.
AMY: SOME STATES CHARGE INTEREST
ON BACK SUPPORT BUT IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE, INTEREST DOES NOT
ACCRUE.
THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IS 20
YEARS FOR COLLECTING UNPAID
SUPPORT.
SHE BELIEVES THE WAY HER