CSE - How to Complain

by Larry Brademeyer

Getting Angry? Frustrated? Feelings of helplessness? These are some of the emotions I generally hear in the voices of the custodial parent when dealing with a difficult Child Support Enforcement Case, or, to put it more bluntly, a case which isn't easily solvable by the Local office of the CSE.

First of all, realize that the employees and caseworkers at the Child Support Enforcement Office, as well as any public agency you deal with, are human too. They are besieged daily with case after case of the abandoned spouses and children. In order for them to survive, the caseworkers eventually develop a shell to protect themselves and begin to view all cases similarly. YOU are not the only persons involved to them. YOU become a "file" and a "case number".

In order to overcome the obstacle of the overworked bureaucrat treating you as just another number, you should realize that your anger is misdirected. It should always be directed at your spouse, for there lies the problem. Believe me, there are plenty of people out there who wish their spouses WOULD leave, instead they not only stay, but don't work or help in any way whatsoever. They turn into another mouth to feed and another person who is dependent on you for support. And you, being the one everyone relies upon, are there for them and the situation is even harder on you. So, if nothing else, try to look on the bright side, YOUR SPOUSE MIGHT HAVE STAYED!!!

So, back to the subject at hand, there you are with a legal document, stating that you should be getting so much money per child per week or month. The CSE is there to try to help. But they are not mind readers and neither do they have the manpower to do everything, which should be done with the caseload. So, you are just a "number". And therefore it is up to you to become the eyes and ears, the information provider for your caseworker. And when that doesn't help, the pain in the neck of the CSE as a whole.

If you have done everything humanly possible to help the situation get resolved, and still the caseworker still has to hunt for your file, finds it under a stack of odds and ends, and it is marked "pending", or "no action taken", or even worse, can't find it at all, well, it's time to do something!

Here is a way to vent your frustration effectively, and with a maximum effectiveness.

Arm yourself with KNOWLEDGE!! Get to know your rights and the laws which govern Child Support; Spousal Support; all the rights the law allows you, and don't be cowed by an overburdened, rude, or uncaring caseworker.

Know the terms PRWORA (Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Reconciliation Act); UIFSA (Uniform InterState Family Support Act) and URESA (Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement Support Act); the laws regarding AFDC and the newer TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families).

Know that ALL states have a Child Support Enforcement Agency that is Federally funded under Title IV (pronounced 4-D) and MUST help you collect your child support if your children are under 18, or if you filed before they turned 18. Maximum fee to you is a $25 application fee.

Know that you are entitled to a free attorney and that if you are pursuing the case independently with your own attorneys you can still have their assistance.

Know that even if you are not married you can get support from the father by establishing paternity. Get to know everything and you will be prepared for the bureaucratic nightmare which seems to plague so many who seek help from the agency which is there to help children and their custodial parent.

An excellent source for this information is here on the Internet, under the http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/hypernews/register.html, you can research current and proposed laws, make suggestions, etc. You must register to do this, but it's a free service. And a good jumping off point in your search is the link to the ACF at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/

Another fantastic organization for information is ACES , the non-profit Child Support Group which provides free information and services . Their toll free number is 1-800-738-ACES. The acronym ACES stands for Association for Enforcement of Child Support, Inc.

I am a card-carrying member and highly recommend them for any and all help and information. Most of which is free. Ask for their free info-pack.

And this brings me to the obstinate Child Support Enforcement Agency, to which you have been so kind and patient, providing them with all kinds of info, only to be forgotten, no matter how many times you call.

Remember to keep copies of ALL correspondence, with dates, and all contact with the agencies you deal with, including the names and titles of the people who you've talked to.

#1. Contact the State Support Agency, usually through the Welfare Dept.

#2. No help there? Contact the Federal Regional Office of CSE for the state where the problem is occurring. Office addresses listed on the DHHS site or through ACES.

#3. Contact the Federal Office of Child Support in Washington, D.C.

#3a)Currently David Gray Ross, Deputy Director , Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement, 370 L'enfant Promenade SW , Washington , D.C. 20447 - (202)401-9370

#4. Your newspapers; State Representatives; Senators; and their Federal counterparts. Their addresses and contact info can be found on my website under CSE Links or the Do-it-yourself search page.

#5.The President of the United States. Address is The White House; 1600

Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20500 (202) 401-9370.

I recently had contact with a woman who had done all of the above, except the President, to no avail. In desperation, she wrote to him and shortly thereafter her elected officials were tripping over themselves attempting to get her help.

If the Judge or Hearing Officer is not enforcing the law, contact the Supreme Court and request a complaint form to file an Official Judicial Grievance Procedure, or find out how to file an appeal.

If your caseworker is not effectively working on your case, contact the 1. Director of the Child Support Agency (IV-D)

If another state refuses to help you establish the order, enforce the order; or is slow in enforcing it, contact The Federal Regional Office of Child Support either where you reside or where the non-custodial parent lives. And the Federal Office of Child Support in Washington, D.C. ; your U.S. elected officials (Senators and Representatives, Governor (both your state and the non-payers.)

And don't forget the President.

Tips on Effective Complaining

1. Write a short, concise statement of the facts surrounding your treatment.

2. Make a follow-up phone call if you receive no response in two weeks time, or if the response is inappropriate.

3. Send a copy of the letter to newspapers; elected officials (both State and Federal), your local chapter of ACES, and /or the National Headquarters.

A lot of this information was supplied by my experiences with the CSE and Civil Servants. Much was supplied by the experiences of the women and men I have had contact with; my own research; and a special thanks to the ACES organization which is a bastion of the Child Support Effort, and should be applauded for their efforts.

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