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Yahoo!Like many organizations meant to support individuals struggling through tough times, Santa Barbara County Child Support Services has been feeling the effects of the recession, along with its beneficiaries. Carrie Topliffe, director of the county’s Support Services, pointed out that one “helpful indicator” of this nationwide effect of the recession is the percentage of payments that come out of wages, as opposed to those that come from unemployment insurance.
Topliffe laid the situation out by the numbers. Sixty-four percent of payments came from wages in fiscal year 2006-07, while only 2 percent were from unemployment insurance. Comparatively, this fiscal year has seen 63 percent coming from wages, with 5.4 percent coming from unemployment insurance. While that one percent difference seems a small change, Topliffe pointed out, it translates into $40 million less in payments from wages, while the payments from unemployment insurance has nearly tripled.
Within Santa Barbara County, Topliffe explained, in the fiscal year ending in June, $1.2 million of the payments came from unemployment insurance while $16.5 million were from wages.
While these comparisons are interesting, they are only part of picture of the general decline in the percentage of payments made.
Compared to 2004, in which 60.4 percent of payments owed to Support Services were made, four years later, the county succeeded in collecting only 55.8 percent. Ultimately, in the nine-month period ending June 30 this year, County Child Support Services was able to collect payments on 1,200 fewer cases compared to the same nine-month period in 2007.
To give an idea of what support orders are costing for people who are hard-pressed to make the payments, Topliffe said that the median payment made is $318 per month.
The cumulative support payment arrears for Santa Barbara over the year ending June 30 was $162,103,235—and the top five individuals with the most arrears owed between $264,910.72 and $427,941.02.
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Thanks for calling attention to the economic challenges facing today’s families who rely on Child Support payments to stay afloat. The legislature has acknowledged its commitment to California’s families by increasing funding to the Child Support department. Locally, we collect and deliver almost $3 in Child Support payments for every $1 we spend to run the program; our 90 employees serve 18,000 families.
Good communication is even more important during these turbulent times. Parents should contact us immediately at 866-901-3212 if they have a change in circumstances that affects their ability to pay. This is a growing trend. Of the time we currently spend in court, fully a third is devoted to requesting modifications of existing Child Support orders. For those parents who have fallen behind in their payments and have lost their driver’s licenses as a result, California is offering “Get Back on The Road” during the month of August. For as little as $25 paid toward past due balances and a renewed commitment to regular monthly payments, parents can again enjoy the privileges of driving. These are some of the many ways Child Support is being responsive to the current climate and working to take care of our local children.
Carrie Topliffe, Director
Santa Barbara County Child Support Department
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ctopliffe (anonymous profile)
August 26, 2009 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Attention: Carrie Topliffe, Director
I hope you find this post and read how frustrated I have become trying to reach your office. Actually anyone trying to reach your office with the phone # posted. I have tried and have spent hours and hours on hold with no success.
I am now the Custodial Parent of my minor child, trying to call your office to get the child support changed has been a complete waste of my time. Nobody has ever answered the phone. I live out of State and now will have to hire an attorney to file a custody support motion. Why doesn't anyone answer the phone?
Please Call this phone # yourself and see what frustrations you would have. My business would be out of business if I ran the Child Support office the way you run answering the phones.
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nunestexas (anonymous profile)
September 14, 2009 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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