Alabama Introduces New Child Support Initiative

By giving its citizens more options to collect state payments, Alabama hopes to reach more people while saving money.

The state signed a new deal with a company that will change the way that child support recipients will be paid. Those who are signed up through the state to receive state funds will be given a reloadable MasterCard debit card that can be used each month. Since these cards are accepted at thousands of locations across the state, recipients will be able to access their money faster than with the old system using paper checks. The paper checks cost the state as much as $2 per check to print and mail, a cost that will be removed by the card program.

In addition to child support payments, other programs will benefit from the new MasterCard system. Those who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Alabama Medicaid Agency's Non-Emergency Transportation Program and the Food Stamp Program will all be converted over to the MasterCard program within a few months.

If you are having a hard time collecting child support, it is advised that you work with a family law attorney!