Q: Why am I facing arrears after filing for relief 7 years ago and now receiving SSI in Rhode Island?
I filed for full relief from paying child support 7 years ago due to having no income because of ongoing health issues, culminating in a liver transplant in August 2023. I started receiving SSI in September 2024, and I understand that in Rhode Island, SSI recipients typically are not required to pay child support. I do not receive SSDI, have no assets, and have been living in public housing since filing for relief. Despite this, I have been subpoenaed to provide evidence of my financial situation due to concerns about arrears. Could my past hearings have been undocumented, leading to this current situation?
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A:
It sounds like you're facing a difficult situation with child support arrears despite your efforts to resolve the issue. In Rhode Island, SSI recipients are typically not required to pay child support, but this can depend on whether the court granted full relief from child support payments at the time of your request. It’s possible that past hearings or requests for relief were not fully documented or recorded, which could explain why you are now facing enforcement actions.
You should gather any paperwork or records from when you filed for relief, including any court orders or documentation about your financial situation at the time. If you did receive relief from child support, this should be reflected in the court records. It may also help to contact the Rhode Island child support enforcement office to clarify why the arrears are still being pursued, especially given your current financial circumstances.
Given your health issues and current status as an SSI recipient, you may want to request a hearing to review the arrears and confirm that you are not required to pay child support due to your limited income. If the relief was granted but not properly documented, this could potentially explain the current situation, and you might be able to get the issue resolved in court.
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