The sputtering economy is having a big impact on parents who owe child support. San Diego County officials say there's been a large increase in the number of people requesting reductions in child support payments.
The County Department of Child Support Services oversees more than 100,000 cases. Officials say in the last six months support payments garnished from unemployment benefits have risen 130 percent.
Department spokesman John Rosenthal said a lot of non-custodial parents are having trouble making their payments.
"We have seen just in the last few months almost 400 people come in and requested downward modification," Rosenthal said. "And that's about three times what we've seen from similar time frames in the past."
Rosenthal said the department is willing to work with parents who've lost their jobs or suffered other financial hardships.
