Some May Receive Payment for Overpaying Child Support

Thanks to an administrative oversight that dates back to 1998, many will actually receive money from the government instead of owing it. According to the Community and Social Services Minister, a mistake made by the administrative department back in 1998 caused $5.3 million extra Canadian dollars to be collected by the government. Those parents that were affected by the mistake will be reimbursed for the extra amount that they paid for child support during that time.

What turns out to have been a simple administrative error had massive ramifications for taxpayers. A new law that was passed in 1997 changed the way that the department would apply a cost-of-living increase. However, the department did not make note of the new law and continued processing payments as usual. An estimated 1,700 people will be receiving paychecks from the government over the next few months. If you have questions related to a child support matter, it is advised that you consult a family lawyer as soon as possible.