State ranks first in increased child support collection

By GINNIE GRAHAM World Staff Writer - 11/4/2009




Julie Koble is featured in the recently released state Department of Human Services annual report. She explains how DHS helped her collect on child support after failing to get help through the courts.


When the back child support owed to her reached about $17,000, Julie Koble wanted something done.

She has a nice job and was able to handle the basic needs of her two sons from her first marriage. But her academically and musically talented teenage sons participate in activities that started costing bigger bucks.

Both are in the Broken Arrow marching and concert bands, which costs about $1,400 each for accessories and equipment, plus music lessons at about $60 a month each and instruments.

"We just spent $3,500 in trombones last year, and have yet to buy a French horn," Koble said. "This is their life. This is where their friends are, where their social life is and what they enjoy. It's expensive, but well worth it."

When she and her husband divorced, her sons were 2 and 4 and the court ordered him to pay $198 a month.

"He never kept up with it and ended up with $17,000 that he owed," she said. "I went to court to see what we can do. I wanted him to be involved and support them or just go away. It took two years and $4,000. I ended up getting something, but no way to really collect anything."

A mediator upped the support to $350 a week plus the amount owed. He paid for a few months then stopped.

"Having a court order doesn't mean the kids will ever see the money if you have no way to get it," Koble said. "I gave up. Then, it just started bothering me. This is for them. Everything he had ever paid went to their college funds or directly to things they need. I didn't feel good about letting it go."

After filling out a form found on the Web site of the state Department of Human Services, she was contacted a few days later by the child support division. They reviewed the court orders and payments received.

At that point, he owed $45,000.

DHS started making collections through payroll withholdings in mid-2008. The agency also intercepted his last year's tax return to deposit about $2,900 into his sons' account, which works similar to a debit card.

Koble uses the account for their musical needs, school fees, clothes or other bills directly for them.

"This is their money," she said. "And when we get the big bills, like the trombone or uniforms, it is so much easier. It's nice because everything can be tracked. You can see where the money has been spent." No more bad guy

In the past decade, the DHS child support division has nearly tripled its collections.

In 1998, DHS collected about $96 million in child support. Last year, it reached a record $299 million.

Since last year, the division increased collections by 17 percent, which is the highest rate of increase among the 50 states, and 2 1/2 times the national average.

Welfare reform in the late 1990s encouraged increased child support collections to cut down the need for other social supports.

Federal rules changed to allow child support enforcement agencies to intercept funds from federal sources such as income taxes, Social Security and unemployment. State licenses can be revoked or denied if child support is owed.

DHS can also get benefits from the federal stimulus programs or lottery winnings.

The agency cannot collect money without a court order.

When DHS first contacted Koble's ex-husband, who now lives in Texas and is re-married, he was angry.

"He called and asked why I was doing this," Koble said. "How do you answer that? He didn't argue that he owed the money or that he needed to support his sons."

Eventually, the anger subsided. She said he sees his sons about twice a year and is working to establish a relationship with them.

"What's been huge for me is that I no longer have to be the bad guy," Koble said. "Even with the court order, I didn't think I should have to be in the position of nagging him for the money. We can now talk about our plans with the boys."

Even as Oklahoma has increased support collections, about $1.7 billion remains uncollected in Oklahoma child support. At least 55 percent of that amount is from underpayment of support, officials say.

"It was easy for me, and the DHS workers have been nice and professional," Koble said. "I think it makes my ex feel better about finally being able to do something about it and support his sons." By the numbers: DHS child support collections

$96 million: Amount in child support collected by Oklahoma’s DHS in 1998

$299 million: Amount in child support collected by DHS last year.

17 percent: Amount that DHS’ child support enforcement division has increased collections since last year, the highest rate of increase among the 50 states, and 2 1/2 times the national average

Source: DHS

Ginnie Graham 581-8376
ginnie.graham@tulsaworld.com


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Tulsa World Reader Comments
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Tony G, Tulsa (11/4/2009 5:48:14 AM)
Go DHS, nail these lazy, lousy, useless piles of poo. Male or female, pay your child support!

AllSmiles, Sperry (11/4/2009 8:44:31 AM)
Kids need to be supported and not just by one parent. I am so grateful that I do not have this problem. Makes life so much easier when both seperated parents are civil and split cost 50/50.

DBJohn, Tulsa (11/4/2009 8:48:54 AM)
This is good and I'm glad to see it. I am curious how much money of support DHS was saved by the collection on this money?

2ndjoyce, BA (11/4/2009 9:27:56 AM)
Moms and dads who are not supporting their children should be ashamed. It still blows me away how some do not deviate from the amount ordered even when the expenses for a child increase from time to time. Shame on parents who do not take responsibility to cover the essentials much less the extras.

lucky girl, mine (11/4/2009 9:31:11 AM)
How could anyone be so selfish that they would not be responsibe enough to take care of their own children?

007, Tulsa (11/4/2009 9:38:59 AM)
GOOD!

Tulsaace, (11/4/2009 9:50:22 AM)
Did you see that note; "her sons were 2 and 4 and the court ordered him to pay $198 a month" are you @#$%ing kidding me! This was a bargin for the Dad (looser). He should loose all his rights for being completely STUPID! I paid 4x that for 1 child and never missed a payment in 16 years.

Phil # 3, Yukon (11/4/2009 10:16:14 AM)
There are obvious falsehoods in this article but time and space prevent going into many of them. According to the article, this father was ordered to pay $198/month. That is a questionable number, at best. According to child support calculators for Oklahoma, one way this can happen is if the custodial parent (mom) earns $13,000 per month and the father earns $1500 and then the amount is $199. If both parents earn $8/hour, child support (from dad) is $332/month. If the father earns $25/hour and the mother earns $0, child support to be paid is $837, (all assuming 40 hour week). If both parents earn $2000/month each, the non-custodial (dad) parent's total is $418. And none of this includes add-ons like child care, insurance, transportation and out-of-pocket medical, vision or dental expenses, etc. The way the calculations are set up, a father making $1100/month (mom unemployed) will be ordered to pay $50 while a father making $50 more ($1150) with a non-working mother will be ordered to pay $338 and this is only the tip of the iceberg about how poorly child support calculations work. The USDA has the costs for families calculated by area yet not one state uses them in their calculations for child support, relying on testimony of those who have a monetary interest in keeping child support figures as high as possible and enforced with draconian measures including what amounts to debtor's prison but only enforced against one of the parents. Secondly, custodial mothers are "presumed" to help pay for their children's costs but while dad absolutely must account for his child support spending and extras, the mother is held completely unaccountable for both the tax-free money received from the father as well as the amount she is "presumed" to put toward them. She can claim to spend 100% of both her income and the received money on the children and no one can possibly prove her wrong. All this without even going into the tax breaks allowed custodial parents that amounts to thousands of dollars per year including, but not limited to, earned income, head-of-household and the deductions for the children. Fact is, the huge majority of so-called "dead-beats" simply are unable to pay. Many have been laid off due to 'downsizing' or companies moving out of the US and earning $0 are still under court orders to continue to pay the child support amounts that are often enough to completely support one person. And the amounts given at the bottom undoubtedly include interest, penalties and make-believe. The whole child support industry is geared toward transferring wealth from one capable adult to another under the guise of "the children" which is a blatant lie. What it amounts to is an incentive for women to divorce their husbands, kick them out of the family and reap the offers from the state and federal government which includes a tax-free source of income for up to twenty years... and many women seem to be very happy to oblige. Meanwhile the children are ignored and fathers are held to a much higher standard than mothers. The sexism is rather obvious. Thirdly, what about the disparage in standards of living for the mother and the father? Is it acceptable for dad to be forced to live in squalor while mom is living middle class or better by sharing (embezzling) the money supposedly for the exclusive benefit of the children? And the most often factual situation is that the mother files for divorce and custody for something other than a tangible reason like abuse, adultery or abandonment. The number one reason for divorce is a "feeling" of the wife which is hardly a valid reason to disrupt the children's whole world. And sadly, there's more. Much more and all of it is rife with problems.

Daniel Day Simpson, Edmond (11/4/2009 10:29:17 AM)
Yes, we really should be careful about winning certain contests as it just bolsters the world's stereotypical view of Oklahoma as Arkansas' neighbor. That's a kin to being neighbors to The Parker family in "A Christmas Story" and sequal "It Runs In the Family(1994)". That makes our state the Bumpuses. Not exactly a badge of honor in any galaxy.

Tulsa World Staff Writer Ginnie Graham, Tulsa (11/4/2009 11:11:43 AM)
I am the reporter who wrote this story. The figures were confirmed by DHS and the court records, which are available at the Tulsa courthouse(case No. FD-1997-321). I am not familiar with the table cited. But judges and mediators can issue orders for any amount of support he or she feels is fair. They can also amend those orders as changes in income occur. Feel free to look up the case to doublecheck me.

DBJohn, Tulsa (11/4/2009 11:29:40 AM)
Phil # 3, Sounds like your familiar with a bitter divorce and have been nailed with child support. I do realize that things happen and income has changed. But what would that deadbeat do if he was still in the residence. Why should that child suffer and who is going to supply them with their needs?

ndnprincess, (11/4/2009 12:38:51 PM)
I am happy that Ms. Koble has received help from DHS to collect for her children from her ex-husband. This has not been the case for myself and my daughter. For over 1 1/2 years I have constantly contacted DHS to assist my minor daughter in collecting past due support. For a year of that time I made phone call and emailed every office I could get in touch with, in Oklahoma City. They just never would connect me to the Tulsa office. Finally, in June 2009, I was given the number to the Tulsa office. Not to my case worker--the receptionist. I was told that even if I filled out the paperwork I would have to pay to have my ex-husband served (he lives in N.C.). I was assured from the receptionist that she would take my information and have my case worker contact me. It is October and I have still not heard from a case worker. My address, phone number, or email have never changed. I have given up on DHS. I believe they are the laziest state department employees I have ever dealt with. I have come to the conclusion that I will struggle to support my daughter myself, I will pay for her a car, car insurance, lunch money, clothes, food, etc....At least I will have the satisfaction of knowing that I did my job.

EmriesGrammy, (11/4/2009 12:42:16 PM)
My ex-husband was ordered to pay child support and he lives in Oklahoma and now our 3 children are grown and he has never paid a dime. He owes over $80,000 to his children and Oklahoma has done nothing to help.

Daven, Tulsa (11/4/2009 12:49:16 PM)
Now if we can only get these parents that receive this money to actually use it on thier kids, they would be much better off!

Greg19670, (11/4/2009 12:49:44 PM)
What is it with these dead beat sperm donnors? I don't care if you flip burgers. Be a man and pay your ex so your child wont go without. I've been divorced for going on 4 years now. In that time I have never missed a payment. Even when I was out of work for from Jan to July of this year. I still paid exactly what I was ordered to. I'm not looking for a kudos. You do what you're supposed to do and be a man.

TeacherCrusader, (11/4/2009 1:49:36 PM)
Dappie, Don't be so hard on NDN princess. The office is only open one day per week and it takes an act of Congress to get past the receptionist. There is even a quota on how many times you can call the CSED office. I was told, "You've already called this month." My ex owes almost $24,000. DHS knows where he lives -- they've even put out a bench warrant -- but they can't seem to get motivated enough to go over and serve it. If he were a Deadbeat Mom instead of a Deadbeat Dad, I bet he'd be in prison.

kyote, (11/4/2009 1:53:11 PM)
Is this no surprise when the uncontrolled dhs uses nazi tactics to collect payments and no one supervises them.

hippienana, Tulsa (11/4/2009 5:14:38 PM)
Do what Texas does and automatically garnshee (spelling probably wrong) paychecks.

DBJohn, Tulsa (11/4/2009 6:35:58 PM)
Good advise dappie. DHS is ASSISTING you in retrieving the money not doing it for you. Fill out the paper work and pay the fees. Daven, you are correct, but unfortunately I don't know of anyway that could be done. You must also remember that support also is to cover part of the children's other living expenses such as rent/mortgages, utilities etc.

ace90, (11/4/2009 7:56:18 PM)
ndnprincess-I am guessing you are native american by your screen name. If your child is native american or the father is a tribal member it may be hard to find, locate him and get money from him. Tribes are a sovereign nation with its own government and laws it is a long process. The state or DHS has to work with the tribes in getting child support. Some tribes have their own child support offices and according to my caseworker, who I talked to this week, said that some of the tribes work with DHS and some do not. DHS is a big agency and I think it is overwhelmed. It should be reorganized. I think DHS has some benefits. As far as contacting DHS offices in Tulsa, I looked up the information the website and got a hold of the Tulsa office so you may have to do a little leg work. They have really been helpful.

rdhm, (11/4/2009 7:58:58 PM)
They may be first in child support but they are last at making sure someone paying their child support gets to see their children. It is completely one sided. I paid 100% for 14 years and the state never helped enforce my visitation! It is a joke!

DBJohn, Tulsa (11/4/2009 8:16:08 PM)
rdhm, That is not DHS responsibility. That is the courts decision on your visitation and also the enforcement. There are numerous reason for they way visitations.

612, Broken Arrow (11/4/2009 8:33:49 PM)
DBJohn, you are wise in the ways of child support/visitation issues. Thanks for your thoughtful input.

loudshirt, (11/4/2009 10:51:04 PM)
I do agree with Phil #3. I think it is kind of funny how my ex wife makes about 3 times as much as I do and I have to pay almost 1/4 of my take home pay for child support. I think a large step in the right direction would be to make the custodial parent account for all spending on the child. Why dont we ever hear about the mothers that dont pay child support? I would be as a percentage there are more dead beat moms than dads.

rdhm, (11/5/2009 4:41:18 AM)
DBJohn I had visitation but she never complied with it. It seems a little discrimanatory that support is enforeced and visitation is not. It is easy for you to say this but when you pay 100% of the time you should not have to pay an attorney thousands of dollars to see your children. It is extremely one sided. The DHS is just like the Gestapo. When you are treated so unfairly it is WRONG!


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