Friday, July 20, 2007
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Administration Intercepts $5 Million to Benefit Missouri Children
JEFFERSON CITY– Gov. Matt Blunt announced today that his administration redirected almost $5 million to benefit Missouri children and families through an inter-agency program. The money was collected from unemployment insurance benefit payments during the first six months of 2007 to pay for delinquent child support payments.
"Collaboration between state agencies continues to result in improved outcomes for Missourians," said Gov. Matt Blunt. "This program demonstrates the benefits available to our children and families as agencies work together to improve efficiency and reduce waste."
From January 1 through June 30, 2007, the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations' Division of Employment Security intercepted $4,990,879 in child support from unemployment insurance benefit payments. The program is a partnership between state agencies to cross match information to determine whether a noncustodial parent that owes child support is receiving unemployment insurance benefits. Agencies work together to determine the appropriate intercept amount.
"Failure by a parent to pay court-ordered child support causes financial hardship in the lives of children and families who are legally entitled to this assistance," said Rod Chapel, director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. "I congratulate the staff at Employment Security for their efforts to intercept this money."
The Child Support Intercept Program celebrated its 25th anniversary in May 2007. This program allows the collection of delinquent child support payments through the partial withholding of unemployment insurance benefits. Deductions from unemployment benefit checks for delinquent payment of court-ordered child support has resulted in over $140 million paid for Missouri's children since the program's inception in 1982.
For more information regarding child support intercepts or the Missouri Division of Employment Security, please visit www.dolir.mo.gov/es or call (573) 751-3215.