Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Reviews
Jan 4, 2021
I am an out of state single father with a child support order in Illinois. It has been in effect for over 14 years. When covid hit, my caseworker's number was disconnected without notice, I was not provided a new one. I have called, emailed, and tried using their automated system and website to try to get information regarding my case. I am owed over $150,000 in back child support, I have recieved nothing in several years, including the government stimulus checks that according to their website should have come to me.
I have literally spent hours if not days trying to get ahold of someone who can help, with no luck. I recieved a letter a couple weeks ago stating that because of their inability to find the mother of my son, they would stop enforcement all together. This is completely absurd. Because they didn't do their job they are going to quit doing their job? (She has been married, in prison, and had 2 other children since the order was placed, she has definately left a paper trail)
When I was finally able to speak to someone they told me because I don't pay them, they don't have to answer to me. Wait a minute, don't my taxes pay their salary, seeing as it is a government agency? Isn't the job of child support enforcement to enforce child support? I have the letter stating, "This is an important notice, if you do not understand this notice, contact the child support Customer Service Call Center at 1-800-447-4278 who can explain it to you." I have called that number so many times it is ingrained in my head. Each time, if I get lucky and hit the right combination of automated system department codes, I will get to speak with someone after 45 minutes of listening to their awful hold message, which repeats ad nasium "Be sure to have your PIN, RIN, and date of birth of one of the children in the order to receive help".
When and if someone finally answers, they don't greet you, they don't apologize for the wait, they simply demand your Social Security number. Say anything but your SS number and they will cut you off to tell you they won't help without giving the social security number. They have hung up on me multiple times because I refused to provide this, (I have the PIN, RIN, and Birthdate, I was notified I was involved in yet another data breach the day before I received the letter so I am hesitant to give this to anyone over the phone, especially considering the Privacy act of 1974 states that no government agency shall deny services because of the refusal to provide a social security number, and to top it off, Illinois has ammended that to make it even stricter in favor of privacy).
So here I am, in another state, dealing with everything covid has thrown at us, trying to raise my kid on my own, and the state of Illinois is meanwhile creating an endless circle that leads to nowhere forcing me to choose whether to try to come up with the cash to hire a lawyer and take them to court, or to just forget about the child support I need to take care of my kid in these trying times.
There seems to be no oversight whatsoever, in the 15 times I have called in the last 2 weeks, I was only able to reach someone 3 times. The first gal told me she did not have a supervisor, would not give me her name or employee number, and stated there is no agency in charge of them before hanging up. The next two didn't even say that much, the second hung up as soon as I said I did not want to provide my SS# but I have the other information, the third hung up as soon as I mentioned that requiring a SS# goes against the privacy act of 1974.
I guess at this point I shouldn't expect a government agency to actually do its job or even to follow the law, but if Child support enforcement doesn't enforce child support, why do they need all that taxpayer money that could be going to literally millions of better uses.
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services Reviews
I am an out of state single father with a child support order in Illinois. It has been in effect for over 14 years. When covid hit, my caseworker's number was disconnected without notice, I was not provided a new one. I have called, emailed, and tried using their automated system and website to try to get information regarding my case. I am owed over $150,000 in back child support, I have recieved nothing in several years, including the government stimulus checks that according to their website should have come to me.
I have literally spent hours if not days trying to get ahold of someone who can help, with no luck. I recieved a letter a couple weeks ago stating that because of their inability to find the mother of my son, they would stop enforcement all together. This is completely absurd. Because they didn't do their job they are going to quit doing their job? (She has been married, in prison, and had 2 other children since the order was placed, she has definately left a paper trail)
When I was finally able to speak to someone they told me because I don't pay them, they don't have to answer to me. Wait a minute, don't my taxes pay their salary, seeing as it is a government agency? Isn't the job of child support enforcement to enforce child support? I have the letter stating, "This is an important notice, if you do not understand this notice, contact the child support Customer Service Call Center at 1-800-447-4278 who can explain it to you." I have called that number so many times it is ingrained in my head. Each time, if I get lucky and hit the right combination of automated system department codes, I will get to speak with someone after 45 minutes of listening to their awful hold message, which repeats ad nasium "Be sure to have your PIN, RIN, and date of birth of one of the children in the order to receive help".
When and if someone finally answers, they don't greet you, they don't apologize for the wait, they simply demand your Social Security number. Say anything but your SS number and they will cut you off to tell you they won't help without giving the social security number. They have hung up on me multiple times because I refused to provide this, (I have the PIN, RIN, and Birthdate, I was notified I was involved in yet another data breach the day before I received the letter so I am hesitant to give this to anyone over the phone, especially considering the Privacy act of 1974 states that no government agency shall deny services because of the refusal to provide a social security number, and to top it off, Illinois has ammended that to make it even stricter in favor of privacy).
So here I am, in another state, dealing with everything covid has thrown at us, trying to raise my kid on my own, and the state of Illinois is meanwhile creating an endless circle that leads to nowhere forcing me to choose whether to try to come up with the cash to hire a lawyer and take them to court, or to just forget about the child support I need to take care of my kid in these trying times.
There seems to be no oversight whatsoever, in the 15 times I have called in the last 2 weeks, I was only able to reach someone 3 times. The first gal told me she did not have a supervisor, would not give me her name or employee number, and stated there is no agency in charge of them before hanging up. The next two didn't even say that much, the second hung up as soon as I said I did not want to provide my SS# but I have the other information, the third hung up as soon as I mentioned that requiring a SS# goes against the privacy act of 1974.
I guess at this point I shouldn't expect a government agency to actually do its job or even to follow the law, but if Child support enforcement doesn't enforce child support, why do they need all that taxpayer money that could be going to literally millions of better uses.