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http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4780934/20588813.htmlBoy ends up paying own child supportBy BILL REITER
Register Staff Writer
02/26/2003
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Rylan Nitzschke might be the only 11-year-old in Iowa to pay his own child support.The Department of Human Services earlier this month went after the wages of Keith Nitzschke, Rylan's father, to recover more than $2,000 in unpaid support. The state also took money from two bank accounts in Nitzschke's name.
But
one of the accounts was his son's, holding $220 the Lehigh boy built up by shoveling snow and doing chores in Okoboji, where he sees his dad alternate weekends. The state took half. And only half, not the full amount as what was alluded in the earlier story.A state official said parents are warned that bank accounts can be tapped when payments are late.
"We do not do any of these sanctions if the obligator makes his child-support payments," said human services spokesman Roger Munns. "We have no interest in a child's savings."
Rylan had hoped to buy a PlayStation 2 video console.
"He was a little shocked," his father said.
When Rylan found out some of his money was gone, he asked his dad who took it. Nitzschke explained that he was behind on child-support payments and that the state had taken the money."It's like a child-support thing," Rylan said. "The account was under my name and my dad's name. I heard they thought it was part of my dad's money and they ended up taking it. It sucked."
Nitzschke wasn't happy, either. He said he understands why the agency took the money. He got behind and he's more than willing to pay what owes, he said, but he wants his son's money left alone.
Kim Whitmer, Rylan's mother, declined to comment.
"It really doesn't involve me," she said. Whitmer referred questions to state officials. Yeah, there's a good role model for mothers. Her son's money is gone and she has no comment... Munns also declined to comment on specifics of the case, citing privacy rules. The savings account lists both Rylan and Keith Nitzschke. Nitzschke owed $2,078.70 in support, documents show.
Nitzschke contacted his state representative, Democrat Greg Stevens.
An appeal was turned down by the human services agency. Nitzschke said he's filed a second appeal in district court.Stevens said he knows of one other case in which a child's money was taken to satisfy unpaid support. In that case, the money was later returned. Munns said he'd heard of similar incidents.
"It's a lot of money to a kid, but it's not much money to us," Stevens said. "I'm sure what they're looking at is, people have probably tried to hide money in their account. In both these cases it's obviously not the case."
Munns said parents can avoid the problem by keeping their children's accounts under the custodial parent's name. He said the agency has the best interest of the child at heart.
Rylan, meanwhile, is waiting for his money.
"I don't think I'm going to get it back," he said.
