Problem with Illinois Dept.of Public Aid and Child Support Payments

[Denia Woods]

Illinois Department of Public Aid (IDPA) has jursidiction over my child support case sine 1993. I left Chicago, Il in 1997 and stopped receiving welfare benefits since then. Non custodial parent owes arrears to IDPA. We currently have the same child support order in effect with some modifications...currently 400.00 per month. Arrears are 66.00 per month from NCP. Payments are automatically taken from NCP salary per month and sent to SDU State Dispursemnt Unit for IDPA.

PROBLEM: IDPA keeps taking the wrong amounts towards arrears, some of my payments have been deposited into someone else's account, IDPA employees are not very knowledgeable and unwilling to help regarding this matter.

On July 5, I flew to chicago to speak with a supervisor at IDPA handling child support issues...I have yet to receive a response from her.

It is a known fact that this happens to many women in Illinois that has a case originating w/IDPA at some point or another and we are not receiving any info as to where these monies are going, why the wrong amounts are taken, etc. Phone calls are not returned and no written notifications are given. I wanted to close the case and have the NCP send me payments on his own, I was told I could not close the case and I don't believe that.

I'm considering starting a class action law suit against IDPA, do you think I have a case?

 

[Grandma B]

How about a follow-up letter to the supervisor you met with. State only the facts, giving dates, withholding amounts and amounts received. Send copies to IL state senators and the Governor.

 

[VeronicaGia]

This happens in CA also. Full payment is applied to support, nothing to arrears and vice versa. Ask for a formal audit of the account, although it did us no good. They still claim a payment was never made, even though that is not possible.

Maybe it will help in your case. Ask for it in writing, with a time frame for them to comply. In CA, they have 30 days to comply.