Anonymous

(Kansas City)

My husband has a ten year old son with a woman he was never married to. We have three children together, under the age of 5, and his child support payments are too high. We requested a modification in 2006 that was denied by the state of Missouri. His original order for support has never been re-examined since it started in 2001. We tried to work with the mother to come to a more equitable amount which got us nowhere. He is paying $484 in current support and $242 in arrearages. We barely make enough to feed our kids and the government just keeps taking more. My husband is currently laid off and drawing unemployment, which his ex is getting half of. Leaving us $600 a month to support our children. Mind you, she has a degree, has had 5 jobs in four years and is currently drawing unemployment herself. Is it fair that our children should suffer while she makes out like a queen? I don't disagree that he should pay, only that it should take into consideration that there are other children involved. Bush signed the No child left behind act, I guess that only goes for school because it sure does nothing for economic situations like this. To make matters worse, every tax year they take half of or EIC and give it to the ex as well. We file married and I include the injured spouse form requested by the IRS. The form states that they are to take the fathers income as single and give to the ex what he would have received. That is not at all what they are doing. Last year they took $2000 and only $580 was his. I feel that it's not right to take money that should be for my children and give to his ex! We DO NOT live in a community property state, yet, the IRS does what they want with no explanantion. I have been fighting them for 4 years and have also included the help of the Congressman's office. This is a very frustrating battle. The legal system should take the disposable income by the number of children it is to support and allocate it equally. Then others would not have to suffer.