Is this logicaL..at all?
By k15682
@k15682 (300)
United States
August 17, 2010 10:02pm CST
We all know that the divorce rate in the US is very high and single parents raising kids is all too common. Some of those lucky single parents actually receive child support (which I am opposed to but that's another subject).
In the state I live in child support payments are credited to a debit card for the custodial parent to use. Probably saves the government some money and the convenience of using a debit card is well known. The problem is, somebody in their infinite wisdom decided that the card HAD to remain in the name it was originally issued in. If the merchant decides to ask for ID when using this card and the mother has remarried there is a good chance the transaction will be denied by the merchant. For a custodial father this is not a problem but for a mother who (gasp) remarries, is she to carry around a copy of her marriage license?
I bring this up because I have seen this scenario played out. Why oh why, would our state government have such a policy? Have any of you heard of this before?
5 responses
@Angelgirl16 (2171)
• United States
18 Aug 10
Hi k15682,
I have never heard of this policy. I guess that would be because I don't know anyone who are actually receiving their child support payments. However, I think this is really a ridiculous policy that causes a lot of unnecessary inconvenience to the debit card holder who has change her name, either because she got married or change it legally back to her maiden name.
The government agency must get many complaints about this policy, so they should come up with the solution to the problem. Surely, they must be advising the women who are having trouble getting their transactions approved my the merchant. Can they just make a policy, see that it is not working and not fix it or try to fix it? Yes, I guess they can if this is an ongoing problem.
In the meantime what are the women doing to alleviate the problem. What can they do? Maybe they can carry an old driver license or a social security card showing her old name and the new ones showing her new name, at least until the government comes up with a better plan that works.
U
@k15682 (300)
• United States
18 Aug 10
The woman I know as well as others I'm sure do have an old form of ID that works. I question the requirement to change all forms of ID when your name changes but the state wont change the name on the debit card.
I file this under....what were they thinking?
@Angelgirl16 (2171)
• United States
18 Aug 10
Hi k15682,
Who knows what they are thinking? One thing is for sure, they are not helping the situation by making this card difficult for the users. I am sure they think that it is a great idea. I am happy the women aleast has old and new id to confirm that they are one and the same person.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
18 Aug 10
I know it's not the topic, but how can you be opposed to child support? Do you really think that one parent and not BOTH should be responsible for the well being of the child? Even with child support there is nothing "lucky" about being a single parent.
As for the mother, it's her responsibility to get her name changed on all appropriate documents and materials including any government issued debit card. If this is an issue, she can also carry appropriate documentation showing her legal name change. I work in a library where we check ID if someone doesn't have their card or wants a new one with a different name than listed on their license. In those events people require proof of their name change.
@k15682 (300)
• United States
18 Aug 10
Taskr, Until the courts figure out that fathers are just as capable of being being single parents as a mother I will be opposed to court ordered child support. This is assuming all things are equal as in no abuse. I know a man who spent a year in prison (not county jail) for failure to pay child support. That was his only charge!
Thank you, you understand that a mother has responsibility to change her name on all appropriate documents SO why would the state child support agency have a policy NOT to change the name on the debit card? It just seemed like another unnecessary hoop on must jump through.
@LBWebb1945 (38)
• United States
18 Aug 10
I wonder when this "original name" rule was approved, did anyone just happen to prove read or dialogue on the practicality of the idea. The welfare system and child support system always seem to hire people who make things harder for the individual receiving help. If a father can afford to pay child support I think he should do so. I do not believe a man should be put in jail because he can't afford to do so. That's another form of slavery. I think a law should be passed that a single mother should only be allowed two children and then there should be some type of mandatory birth control. If they do not comply with the birth control, they should be penalized in someway by the government.
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
18 Aug 10
Weird, that is a new one to me. 
It is almost as if they want to track what you buy with the support money or something. Here, in Canada, they just deposit it directly into my bank account and I can use it for whatever I want, whenever I want.
Sounds like they way they have arranged it causes more problems than it solves. 
It is almost as if they want to track what you buy with the support money or something. Here, in Canada, they just deposit it directly into my bank account and I can use it for whatever I want, whenever I want.
Sounds like they way they have arranged it causes more problems than it solves. @Laurenzigzag (48)
• United States
18 Aug 10
It sounds to me like the woman in the child support office just didn't want to deal with it. Call the child support office again and ask for a different person.
THe child support office where I live changed my mom's last name and all the child support paperwork has been filed under her new name.
