This is unacceptable, but it’s only just the tip of the iceberg for how we’re handling these one-time payments. Not only will it not be enough by itself, but right now a lot of things can actually stop you from even getting this money. #EmergencyUBI https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelsandler/2020/04/14/stimulus-checks-may-be-delayed-because-trump-wants-his-name-printed-on-them-report-says/

First, let’s talk offsets. An offset is when a portion of any payment the federal government makes to you is taken to pay an outstanding government debt. This can be a federal or state level debt, and one that’s very common is child support.

The good news? Your stimulus check cannot be offset for any government debt EXCEPT child support. Now you may be thinking, hey those people kind of deserve to be offset, right? We have this image in our heads of who owes it and why. That image is usually wrong.

A lot of people who owe child support are single mothers who also have custody of children themselves. Many people who owe child support are married, and if you file your taxes jointly? Bad news... both of you can have your money taken to pay that debt.

Because it is set up this way, right now there are a lot of families in America who are having their entire stimulus taken to pay that debt. That money for the whole family? Oops, looks like that’s all going to the state for child support... but your kids will be fine, right?

This already happens a lot with tax returns, and many of the poor families impacted by these offsets don’t know what options (if any) are available to them. During a crisis like we face today? It’s unconscionable, and a direct example why these checks should have been universal.