If you live in Baton Rouge, LA or a nearby city and have fallen behind on your child support payments which has led to your driver’s license being suspended, the ‘Back on the Road’ program has been launched to help you. Louisiana’s Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) launched the program back in August but it will only run through September 28, 2018, in an effort to highlight National Child Support Awareness Month. Now, there are a few important things you should know about the program which we have highlighted below for you so that you can take advantage of the help that is being offered before it is too late.
Here’s how the program is expected to help you get your license reinstated as well as you somewhat caught up on your unpaid child support.
In the past, when a payor falls behind on their support payments and they lose their driving privileges temporarily, they “must come into subsequent or partial compliance with their court-ordered support payments before the license may be reinstated,” according to DCFS. DCFS explains that “subsequent compliance requires the payor to be up-to-date with current child support payments, have paid all past-due support or be making periodic payments in accordance with either a court order or a written agreement with the DCFS analyst, and have provided health insurance” given this was required of them.
Unfortunately, when times get tough and a person falls behind on their child support payments, it is often hard for them to catch back up as they might owe more than they can afford. And without a license, it might make it even more difficult for that parent to earn the income they need to catch up. However, with the ‘Back on the Road’ program, DCFS Child Support Enforcement is “offering to reduce those requirements for eligible payors” who decide to participate in the program before the September 28th deadline arrives. Here’s what you would have to pay given you choose to partake in the program:
- You will only have to pay two months of your court-ordered child support.
- $100.00 toward arrears or past-due support, plus administrative fees, it is ordered by the court, on each case to begin the license reinstatement process.
It is important for you to understand that your payment will not include any reinstatement fees or fines that you may be required to pay by the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, according to DCFS.
Aside from the program serving as a form of assistance for non-custodial parents who might rely on their mode of transportation to seek or maintain employment, it is also a way to help get the custodial parent the support they need so that they are able to provide for their children. So, if you are interested in participating in the program, you can contact your caseworkers by visiting www.dcfs.la.gov/cafe and sending them a direct message. You also have the option of contacting the DCFS Customer Service Center at [email protected] or by calling 1-888-524-3578.
Getting behind on child support can be stressful, especially when it impacts your ability to get to and from work. Unfortunately, many individuals experience financial hardships throughout their life and it is important that you take advantage of the help and support that is available when you are faced with one. While this program may be one way to help you back on track, another would be to contact the Baton Rouge, LA child support lawyers at Miller, Hampton & Hilgendorf. Whether you had a few slow months at work or you recently lost your job, we can help determine if you qualify to get your current child support order modified so that you don’t get behind on your payments again.
To learn more about how you can modify a child support order in Louisiana, contact our office today to speak with a legal professional.
You can reach Miller, Hampton & Hilgendorf at:
3960 Government Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
225-343-2205
