February 5, 2006
NBC 6 News, Lincoln

Some people are wondering if the state of Nebraska is doing what it can to break the cycle of poverty and child support is at issue.

Tracey Davis says she feels like her life has been nothing but an uphill battle, however some of it she admits is her own doing.

"The last 15 years have been tough," said Davis, the 32-year-old single mother of three who has been on and off welfare since 1993. "Sometimes you gotta ask for the help -- swallow your pride and ask for the help."

Davis is taking steps in the right direction. She is now studying criminal justice at Hamilton College and is off welfare. While she is grateful for the state help she received, she argues state rules have actually hindered her progress.

The fathers of her children pay their child support to the state, but before the state sends the money to Davis, it keeps an amount equal to the welfare she would receive.

Davis says she didn't receive between $4,000-5,000.

Last year, the state of Nebraska paid out $45.6 million in welfare. To help cover the cost, it kept $10.4 million that otherwise would have gone to child support payments. It's a decision some attorneys argue actually fosters a cycle of poverty.

"These families are living on $8,000 to $11,000 a year," said Milo Mumgaard of the Nebraska Appleseed Center. "And we are not helping take that one more wrong or two more wrongs out of that cycle of poverty."

Nebraska's policy is, however common. Twenty nine states and the District of Columbia keep all of the child support if it's less or equal to welfare benefits received. Iowa and Kansas have exceptions.

Twelve states give the first $50 back and keep the rest. Eight states give back amounts that vary.

Wisconsin allows the welfare recipient to keep all of the child support.

"Over time, you have a far better public policy," said Mumgaard. "The family is able to get off the welfare rolls. Fathers are paying child support they're obligated to pay."

State Senator Gwen Howard says letting families keep child support makes sense and should be considered by Nebraska. But she understands why the state uses it to pay bills.

"The general public will support that and say, 'Good. We should be getting these dollars back,'" said Howard. "But, for me, it's more of a picture with how can we get these people employed and self-sufficient."

"It's hard to better yourself when they do that," said Davis. "It doesn't bring you to self-sufficiency at all."

Senator Howard said she may offer an alternative plan with the way Nebraska handles welfare and child support payments for the next legislative session.