Illinois Passes Law to Eliminate ATM fees for EPPICards

 Posted on September 16, 2014 in Divorce

If you are a single parent who is entitled to receive child support, Illinois law wants to make sure that you get your money. While the preferred means of collecting child support is for the supporting parent to make timely payments, the law has backup methods in place should the preferred means fail. For example, if a parent fails to make a payment, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (DHFS) might freeze his bank accounts or withhold a portion of his income. The state might also revoke his professional license until he pays up.

These backup methods have proved to be successful. During the most recent fiscal year, Illinois collected $1.4 billion in child support. DHFS officials say that this is a record amount. It is also the tenth straight year that the state has collected more than $1 billion. What does this mean for you? If you are dealing with a deadbeat parent (a parent who is supposed to pay child support but who has been missing payments), DHFS will do everything in its power to secure the money that you need to care for your family.

Those needs might extend beyond regular child support. Illinois law also gives courts discretion to require supporting parents to make additional monetary contributions for certain extraordinary expenses, including:

• Health expenses not covered by insurance;
• Child care;
• Education; and
• Extracurricular activities.

A parent who fails to make timely child support payments or other required monetary contributions may be charged with contempt of court. If found guilty, the parent may be:

• Placed on probation with the conditions of probation set by the court; or
• Sentenced to periodic imprisonment for up to six months, provided that the parent is released for established periods of time to work.

Furthermore, as stated previously, the court may order that a portion or all of the supporting parent’s earnings be withheld.

EPPICard Holders Will Not Have to Pay ATM Fees

A new state law makes it easier for child support recipients to actually receive their payments. Illinois law recognizes that not everyone uses banking services, which means that not everyone has a checking account or debit card. For that reason, DHFS offers EPPICards to families who do not have bank accounts. An EPPICard is a re-loadable debit card that provides electronic access to child support payments and helps families avoid check cashing fees while protecting against theft or fraud.

The new law, which takes effect on July 1, 2015, will prohibit ATM fees on EPPICards. This means that EPPICard holders will be able to access their support payment via ATM without being burdened by extra fees. The point of the law is to ensure that child support goes to children and not to banks.

If you are entitled to receive child support, but those payments have not been paid on time, contact one of our experienced Illinois family law attorneys today. We can help you secure payments from a deadbeat parent, as well as help you apply for an EPPICard or petition for a change in the child support owed. Contact us today for a consultation. We can assist those in the St. Charles area.