CORONAVIRUS The stimulus check won't be in the mail for Americans who owe child support

The coronavirus relief bill enacted Friday includes direct cash payments to help people through the crisis — but one red flag that can cost otherwise eligible Americans money is owing past due child support.

Owing back taxes or other debt to the government is not a problem, according to Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the chairman of the Finance Committee and a key author of the bill.

The legislation "turns off nearly all administrative offsets that ordinarily may reduce tax refunds for individuals who have past tax debts, or who are behind on other payments to federal or state governments, including student loan payments," Grassley wrote in a medium.com post.


The stimulus check won't be in the mail for Americans who owe child support

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One more reason not to be a deadbeat mom or dad.

This will disproportionately affect men, so is sexist.

Nap said:

This will disproportionately affect men, so is sexist.

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Non sequitur.

What about those of us who still have an outstanding balance at Blockbuster?

jamesbyoung said:

Non sequitur.

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If something disproportionately targets a specific group is it not a form of oppression on said group? Isn't that the entire argument behind the ridiculous claim that voter ID laws are racist?

Nap said:

If something disproportionately targets a specific group is it not a form of oppression on said group? Isn't that the entire argument behind the ridiculous claim that voter ID laws are racist?

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Look up context, please.

We know a few people who are really whining because they receive government disability or assistance already - but also have a generous income for unreported cash work - and they've lost that cash work income but won't be receiving the free money. Oh the injustice!

Yes, the money to should towards paying the overdue child support.

nap said:

this will disproportionately affect men, so is sexist.

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lol..

jamesbyoung said:

Look up context, please.

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Translation: You're right. I don't want to talk about it.

joko104 said:

We know a few people who are really whining because they receive government disability or assistance already - but also have a generous income for unreported cash work - and they've lost that cash work income but won't be receiving the free money. Oh the injustice!

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Since you brought it up, I was wondering (and I think I know the answer) but, my wife's ex owes a substantial amount in child support but for years has worked for cash under the table or for a company that 1099's him (without deducting for child support) but I'm pretty sure he hasn't filed taxes for years and years. What's the chances that he would be eligible for a stimulus check and they would intercept it for my wife?

Ahlevah said:

One more reason not to be a deadbeat mom or dad.

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Since you brought it up, I was wondering (and I think I know the answer) but, my wife's ex owes a substantial amount in child support but for years has worked for cash under the table or for a company that 1099's him (without deducting for child support) but I'm pretty sure he hasn't filed taxes for years and years. What's the chances that he would be eligible for a stimulus check and they would intercept it for my wife?

jamesbyoung
Look up context, please.

Moderate Right said:

Translation: You're right. I don't want to talk about it.

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Thank you for admitting I am right. Work on the context.

Moderate Right said:

Since you brought it up, I was wondering (and I think I know the answer) but, my wife's ex owes a substantial amount in child support but for years has worked for cash under the table or for a company that 1099's him (without deducting for child support) but I'm pretty sure he hasn't filed taxes for years and years. What's the chances that he would be eligible for a stimulus check and they would intercept it for my wife?

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If you have his SSN, report him to the IRS and let it sort the problem out. It should result in $$$ in the end.

Moderate Right said:

Since you brought it up, I was wondering (and I think I know the answer) but, my wife's ex owes a substantial amount in child support but for years has worked for cash under the table or for a company that 1099's him (without deducting for child support) but I'm pretty sure he hasn't filed taxes for years and years. What's the chances that he would be eligible for a stimulus check and they would intercept it for my wife?

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Hmm. I think you have to have filed a 2019 tax return. If you haven't done that yet, then they go back to 2018. If he doesn't normally file, my understanding is there is a provision for people like that, such as retirees, to file a basic return and still get a check. If there is an outstanding order by a state child support enforcement agency, I would think he'd have a hard time collecting. If he were in arrears just based on violation of a civil custody or visitation order he could fly under the radar, could he not? I mean, unless your wife sues him for back child support and pursues him like a pit bull.

But I'll say this much. If Uncle Sam is aware of the problem, he has a long memory. He almost always gets paid eventually, even if he has to garnish your Social Security check. I've heard of cases of students who stiffed their lenders on student loans back in the 1970s, moved, promptly forgot about them, retired, and then got their SS checks clipped to the max allowed by law because, with interest, those loans ballooned into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. They're literally paying the money back until they drop dead.

One more thing. Some of these people who like getting paid under the table kind of screwed themselves in some ways. For example, people who work in food and beverage and just report up to the minimum wage are not getting Social Security credit or an employer match for that money. Also, many of them begged to get laid off or furloughed even if their employers covered their reported wages since, thanks to the stimulus, they get more on unemployment.

azgreg said:

What about those of us who still have an outstanding balance at Blockbuster?

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You shoulda paid it up before they went bankrupt. Now you'll owe them forever. No forgiveness.