I filed an appeal to the decision the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) made concerning my employment status. It was rejected.
Their excuse: I didn't send it in on time.
Their suggestion: Hire an attorney and take it back to court.
Um, ok. Like it wouldn't take a couple years to work through the system, not to mention if I could afford an attorney, I wouldn't be filing for an increase in child support. Adam will be eighteen in about a year and a half, and then the child support ends anyway. I need it NOW.
Walt and I were watching a report about the economy on the news last night. They showed a room packed full of 40, 50 and 60 something year old people who have been looking for work for two years now. They have exhausted their unemployment benefits. Most of them had college degrees, many on a masters level yet there they are now,some of them teetering on the edge of homelessness.
Walt looked at me and said, "Oh, but just imagine how much they should be making with the degrees they all hold."
It was a joke, of course. If the nationwide mindset was like that of the CSEA and my ex husband, that whole room full of people would be expected to live off their imaginary incomes.
The CSEA is out of touch with reality in my opinion.
The ex? Not only is he out of touch with reality, after ten years, he's still proving to me why he's the "ex" to begin with!
I've been repenting daily for my attitude toward the system. I've been asking God to forgive me for the way I feel about the ex at the moment. It's not healthy for me.
So ... Bless 'em Lord! (And thank YOU for being my true Provider!)
Becky Taylor
10/25/2010
Showing posts with label CSEA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CSEA. Show all posts
Monday, October 25, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Willfully Underemployed
Since June, I have been in the throes of a child support adjustment review. I originally asked for the review, since it's been what ... eight years since I've had an increase? For that matter, I've never requested any changes at all.
My bad!
Meanwhile,both mine and my husband's businesses have all but bottomed out along with about 20% of the rest of Georgia's residents. (The actual unemployment rate in Ga is around 12% which is among the highest in the nation, but that only includes those who are still drawing unemployment checks. Most of the unemployed have already exhausted their benefits.)
The original findings determined I was due more child support ... and a fair amount at that.
That didn't sit well with the ex, who filed a protest. His theory was that I didn't deserve an increase. He thought the amount of child support I receive should be based on what I am capable of making instead of what I am actually bringing in.
I've never heard of such a thing and was reasonably content the magistrate would find no reason to change the first ruling.
Wrong!
The Child Support Enforcement Agency determined that I am indeed "willfully underemployed" Translated, this means that since I have a college degree and theoretically could be working in a hospital lab, but am not, I somehow have only myself to blame for my recent financial woes.
I am absolutely blown away by this. It's downright ridiculous!
I tried to explain to them why I was unable to work in the lab for the last couple years, that being because my son has had special needs which required me to be available at a moments notice.
I told them how I'd started the coaching business in order to try to have a steady income and keep my schedule somewhat flexible at the same time.
I mentioned the fact that over the last ten months I've applied for many laboratory jobs and actually landed four interviews only to be rejected every time.
Yes, I have a college degree and laboratory experience. I am also fifty years old and haven't worked in a lab for over six years. Hospitals aren't exactly clamoring for bench techs like me. If they do happen to be hiring, they prefer someone a little "fresher" than a fifty year old grandma who hasn't peered through a microscope since Shep was a pup!
Shame on the Child Support Enforcement people! Double shame on my son's father! I've not caused one moments trouble with them, yet when I ask for something I rightfully deserve I am slapped in the face with a label such as "Willfully Underemployed?"
Until this happened I've often defended the CSEA. I always thought their bum rap came from lazy, good for nothing mothers whose only desire in life was to get "even" with their ex's and make them miserable ... then were disappointed when a "fair" ruling was made in favor of the fathers.
That mindset is definitely history. They are every bit as pious and uncaring as all the rumors would indicate.
"Willfully Underemployed" Yeah, sure ... me and about four hundred thousand other people in the state of Georgia!
Sleep well tonight, CSEA! (And may the bird of paradise fly up your nose!)
My bad!
Meanwhile,both mine and my husband's businesses have all but bottomed out along with about 20% of the rest of Georgia's residents. (The actual unemployment rate in Ga is around 12% which is among the highest in the nation, but that only includes those who are still drawing unemployment checks. Most of the unemployed have already exhausted their benefits.)
The original findings determined I was due more child support ... and a fair amount at that.
That didn't sit well with the ex, who filed a protest. His theory was that I didn't deserve an increase. He thought the amount of child support I receive should be based on what I am capable of making instead of what I am actually bringing in.
I've never heard of such a thing and was reasonably content the magistrate would find no reason to change the first ruling.
Wrong!
The Child Support Enforcement Agency determined that I am indeed "willfully underemployed" Translated, this means that since I have a college degree and theoretically could be working in a hospital lab, but am not, I somehow have only myself to blame for my recent financial woes.
I am absolutely blown away by this. It's downright ridiculous!
I tried to explain to them why I was unable to work in the lab for the last couple years, that being because my son has had special needs which required me to be available at a moments notice.
I told them how I'd started the coaching business in order to try to have a steady income and keep my schedule somewhat flexible at the same time.
I mentioned the fact that over the last ten months I've applied for many laboratory jobs and actually landed four interviews only to be rejected every time.
Yes, I have a college degree and laboratory experience. I am also fifty years old and haven't worked in a lab for over six years. Hospitals aren't exactly clamoring for bench techs like me. If they do happen to be hiring, they prefer someone a little "fresher" than a fifty year old grandma who hasn't peered through a microscope since Shep was a pup!
Shame on the Child Support Enforcement people! Double shame on my son's father! I've not caused one moments trouble with them, yet when I ask for something I rightfully deserve I am slapped in the face with a label such as "Willfully Underemployed?"
Until this happened I've often defended the CSEA. I always thought their bum rap came from lazy, good for nothing mothers whose only desire in life was to get "even" with their ex's and make them miserable ... then were disappointed when a "fair" ruling was made in favor of the fathers.
That mindset is definitely history. They are every bit as pious and uncaring as all the rumors would indicate.
"Willfully Underemployed" Yeah, sure ... me and about four hundred thousand other people in the state of Georgia!
Sleep well tonight, CSEA! (And may the bird of paradise fly up your nose!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)