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YELLOW SHEET Office of the State Auditor of Missouri |
September 22, 2001
Report No. 2001-91
New child support distribution plan could mean delayed checks and confused recipients
As of� July 2001, child support checks are distributed through a
centralized state payment center, rather than through circuit court clerks
across the state.� This audit examined the
transition to the new system and found state officials did not ensure that all
affected parents were properly notified of the change or that their child support
payments may be late or for less amounts.�
Wrong addresses on one-third
of notification letters
More than 60,000 notices sent in May 2001 about the
redirected child support payments did not reach parents due to incorrect
addresses. These returned letters prompted auditors to notify the Division of
Child Support Enforcement and the State Court�s Administrator to take immediate
action.� In response, the State Court�s
Administrator received new or corrected addresses for about 10,000 return
notices, but the Division has not obtained correct addresses for the remaining
50,000 notices.� The Department of
Social Services did not react proactively to the returned notices, but relied
on parents to contact the payment center if they did not receive a support
payment.� This non-action shifted the
transition burden on to the parents and may cause delayed payments.� (See page 3)�
Possible reduction in payments not noted in redirect
notice
The redirect notices did not explain the changes in
computing child support payments that may result in less money for some
custodial parents.� Division officials
said they did not include the reduction explanation due to space on the letter
and the previous mailing about the change 18 months prior.� The significant change in payment procedures
warranted safeguards to make sure parents were fully informed.� Eighteen months earlier is not a
satisfactory safeguard. �Without
notification and the ability to plan ahead, the lower payment may cause undue
hardship.� (See page 5)
Safeguards to keep payments timely may not work
None of the 15 circuit court clerks contacted by auditors had been told by division officials to implement any precautionary safeguards to prevent delayed payments.� One safeguard allows clerks to send a second redirect letter when a misdirected support payment is received.� However,� many clerks contacted were not aware of this possibility. As a result, division officials have little assurance that the safeguards will prevent delayed payments. �(See page 7)
