There's now a new reason for Texan non-custodial parents to not fall behind on child support payments. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs recently announced that parents cannot owe back child support if they want to be eligible for Community Development Block grant money. Such grant money will go to homeowners that had a house damaged from Hurricane Ike in 2008.
The Galveston County Daily News reports that the state housing agency added no outstanding child support payments as an eligibility requirement for the grant money, even though child support payments are not an eligibility requirement for the federal government. This is because several Texas laws prohibit the state from granting money to people who owe debts to the state of Texas.
Perhaps Texas family law attorneys will be get involved and help child support payers with their debt, so that they will be eligible for the grant money. Homeowners can receive up to $160,000 in grant money to rebuild their homes or up to $100,000 if their house just needs repairing.
Many people in Galveston County are now waiting to find out how much money they will get in repairing or reconstructing their hurricane-damaged home. According to Galveston County Daily News, 82 percent of the more than 1,600 applicants will be eligible for help from the disaster recovery program. Those who are in debt to the state over child support payments will not be among the over 1,000 people eligible candidates.
Related Resources:
- Unpaid Child Support (FindLaw's Bookshelf)
- FAQ Regarding Modification of Child Support Orders (FindLaw)
- Find a Houston Family Law Attorney (FindLaw)
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