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Some Stimulus Checks Intercepted

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The Associated Press

Published: September 10, 2008

BOSTON - Deadbeat dads and moms across the country are discovering that their economic stimulus checks from Washington - intended to encourage the purchase of TVs, cars and other goods - are being intercepted and funneled toward the support of their children.
Treasury Department figures obtained by The Associated Press show that more than 1.4 million of the checks have been seized since the payments began last spring, and a total of $831 million has been collected by child support agencies nationwide.

The parents who are owed child support won't immediately see the money.

And in some cases they may not receive it at all.

The intercepted checks in Massachusetts, for example, are deposited with the state and held for 180 days to allow the parent to file an appeal.

If the appeal is denied, the money is turned over to the parent who has custody - in most cases, the mother - unless she has been on public assistance, in which case the funds can go back to the state and federal government to reimburse taxpayers.

States submit the names and Social Security numbers of deadbeat parents to the IRS.

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