Child Support Issues
Introduction
Child support, also known as child maintenance, is the state-imposed procedure of collecting money from children's non-custodial parents and redistributing it to the ones who have custodial rights. The original aim behind the child support system was to prevent non-custodial parents from neglecting their children. Unfortunately, the state allows many people, mostly women, to unethically use the system as a means of parasitising their ex-spouses. There have been cases involving the state forcing men to pay child support for children who do not belong to them. [1]. In some cases, sperm donors have and adolescent male victims of female-on-male rape have been ordered to pay child support. [2] [3]Child Support in Australia
A department of the Federal Goverment, known as the Child Support Agency (CSA), is responsible for collecting monies owed by parents. Money collected by the CSA is transferred to the parents of whom are legally defined to receive the payment. [4]The CSA uses its child support formula to detemine how much money must be paid by parents who don't have primary custody. A parent's income, time spent with children and the amount of money needed to support him/herself is taken into consideration when setting child support. If both parents agree on a self-made arrangement, then the CSA will accept it, but only if the amount of money paid to the primary caregiver is equal or more than the amount judged by the CSA's child support forumula. Legal counsel does not need to be sought when both parents agree on a self-made arrangement. Depending on the circumstances, parents can meet their obligations by paying for services such as lawn mowing and medical bills, or buying necessary items such as school clothing. [5]
According to the CSA's website, recipients of child support are not required to spend the money on their children.
"Child support is transferred to benefit the children. It assists with providing all basic necessities for the children including housing, food, clothing and school fees. The child support provided by the other parent is to help you when the children are in your direct care. [6]
The CSA provides paying parents with the ability to prevent their children's other parents from spending the money on themselves. [7]
"If you are concerned about how your child support is spent by the other parent you have the option of arranging direct, third party or prescribed payments at any time.
Direct payments are payments such as cash, clothes, transfer of property rights, or providing a service such as lawn mowing or bookkeeping that can be credited as child support if both parents agree.
Prescribed payments are certain payments that can be credited as child support even if the parent receiving child support doesn't agree, such as school uniforms, essential medical and dental items, or the other parent's share of rent. However this can only occur if the paying parent has less than 14 per cent (regular) care."
Child Support in Canada
Child Support in England, Scotland and Wales
Child Support in New Zealand
Child Support in USA
Statistics
- 90% of Non-Custodial fathers Pay Child Support.
- 90% of Fathers With Joint Custody Pay Child Support.
- Fathers With Visitation Rights Pay 79.1%
- 44.5% of Non-Custodial Fathers Still Financially Support Their Children.
- 66% of Fathers Not Paying Child Support Are Unable To Due To Lack of Financial Resources.
- 52% of Fathers Who Owe Child Support Earn Less Than $6,155 Per Year According To The Poverty Studies Institute.
- 47% of Non-Custodial Mothers Default on Child Support.
- 27% of Non-Custodial Fathers Default Child Support.
- Total Custodial Mothers: 11,268,000.
- Total Custodial Fathers: 2,907,000.
- 66% of Non-Custodial Fathers Do Not Pay Child Support Due To An Inability To Pay.
- Custodial Mothers Who Receive a Support Award: 79.6%
Other Links:
Children's Justice Organisation Statistics
Bibliography:
- Florida man owes $10,000 for child who's not his
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (CNN) -- Francisco Rodriguez owes more than $10,000 in back child support payments in a paternity case involving a 15-year-old girl who, according to DNA results and the girl's mother, is not his daughter. CNN - Dead Sperm Donor Ordered to Pay Child Support
AC -- Associated Content - 16-Yr.-Old To Pay Child Support To 19-Yr.-Old Mom Who Allegedly Sexually Assaulted Him
Now a court has ordered the youngster to pay $50 a month child support, despite the fact the act that resulted in the child's birth was apparently illegal. CityNews - About the Child Support Agency
The Child Support Agency (CSA) is part of the Australian Government Department of Human Services. CSA's role is to support separated parents to transfer payments for the benefit of their children. CSA's aim is to work with all areas of the government, community and private industry service providers to provide the best possible support to all our customers.The CSA has around 1.5 million customers and transfers child support payments for more than 1.1 million children.
Child Support Agency (CSA) Australia - Child support formula
Child Support Agency (CSA) Australia - Parents - Frequently asked questions
Q: What should I/the other parent spend the child support money on?A: Child support is transferred to benefit the children. It assists with providing all basic necessities for the children including housing, food, clothing and school fees. The child support provided by the other parent is to help you when the children are in your direct care.
Child Support Agency (CSA) Australia - Parents - Frequently asked questions
Q: What should I/the other parent spend the child support money on?A:... If you are concerned about how your child support is spent by the other parent you have the option of arranging direct, third party or prescribed payments at any time.
Direct payments are payments such as cash, clothes, transfer of property rights, or providing a service such as lawn mowing or bookkeeping that can be credited as child support if both parents agree.
Prescribed payments are certain payments that can be credited as child support even if the parent receiving child support doesn't agree, such as school uniforms, essential medical and dental items, or the other parent's share of rent. However this can only occur if the paying parent has less than 14 per cent (regular) care. Child Support Agency (CSA) Australia
