Fatherhood
Donation protected
Hi my name is Raheem Jackson . Im a father of 2 beautiful daughters Arianna 6 months old and Gianna 7 yrs old . I currently am working 1 FT job and a part time cleaning job for 5 different locations overnight. The reasons I made a GoFundMe is more so because the justice system in my personal opinion is set up for failure is when it comes to child support. Even if a person is paying child support but falls behind they are threatened with jail time, and if they are put in jail they then face the chance of losing their jobs and in some cases even more time with their child or children. as is the case with my situation. I will try my best to get keep it short and get directly to point.
I have been on child support for my oldest daughter Gianna since she was a little older than 1. I never agreed with child support system and how they calculate the monthly payments, but as long I saw my child and had my time with her which I did I never really argued it. When placed on child support I was still at the time in Army National Guard and working a FT job to support myself and my daughter then had to pick up 2 part time jobs to make more income to pay the amount of child support I was ordered to pay and even then didn’t like it but didn’t fight it. I fell behind a few times but was always able to catch up on any arrears amount owed. My 8 year service with the military ended, the FT job I was working the company went out of business so I left with the 2 part time jobs. This was a blessing and a curse. I didn’t want to reenlist in the military with my daughter getting older and other reasons. However I could no longer pay the full amount I was suppose to pay for Child Support. Only after about 3-4 court cases was I able to finally get the support lowered to a manageable payment and it stayed that way for years. At one point I lost all my jobs and the mother of my daughter even took me off child support and forgave the arrears amount leaving me with nothing owed. That only lasted a short 4 months before I was placed back on child support and started out in arrears. After several more court dates the amount went up I was still able to pay my arrears and my monthly payments .This last time around was way different.
Again I never agreed with the child support system and their calculations or lack of reasoning for a person to raise the amount ,but I always paid my child support ,and still do even when I wasn’t working and was always able to eventually catch up on my arrears. I recently moved to King Of Prussia PA with my current girlfriend who is the mother of my youngest daughter who is 6 months old. We moved for work we both work for Lifetime Fitness (different Locations).I was happy to finally be working one FT job and take care of my family. The mother of my oldest child raised the child when I moved I assumed because my parenting time is now limited to the weekends. But the amount it was raised to is entirely too much for me even with a raise and a promotion I was given at work doesn’t seem to help. I went from paying $230 a month to $750 a month all based off the income was making when 1st placed on child support back in 2012. I filed to have the amount lowered and I was met with 1 week in jail directly from court unable to call my jobs or family ,and nearly losing both my Ft and part time Jobs. this is why I’m asking for help. My current arrears are totaling about $4,500 and I’m currently paying every pay period 425 that’s 850 a month and even the little amount I can spare from the PT job doesn’t seem to help much. I tried everything with court and even tried talking to mother of my child, but seem as long as I’m in arrears I will not be heard I can’t afford a lawyer and I don’t qualify for any legal aid. I feel as if my hand is truly tied. I’m looking to make $2,500 so I can pay off a little more than half of my arrears then refile to have my payments lowered. Any amount raised will go directly toward the arrears, the courts have given me until March 9th to come up with minimum the half the amount of my arrears or they will put out a warrant for my arrest which I will serve more jail time even though I am paying what I can. however if i can come up with the funds prior to the end month that will help me more than ever. I simply just don’t make enough money to pay what they want me to pay im still currently paying almost 900 amonth sometimes even all of my paycheck goes directly to child support.the consequences are somuch deeper than jail time to me i lose time with my not just one child but both children I was written up at my FT upon returning to work after a week in jail even though i explained in detail and was 100% honest if this happens again i will lose my job for sure , again how would i make the payments with the majority of my income gone which in turn affects my living situation etc. I'm literally working from 8am-1am on a daily basis to simply pay for child support for 1 child and still fall short. My end goal is to lower the arrears so i can refile to have it lowered and also to be able to enjoy my time with both my daughters instead of having to constantly work in fear of going back to jail. i want to continue enjoy bein a father to both my daughters as well as take care my responsibilities with child support just at a rate that i can actually do , and will allow me to handle all my responsibiltes as i should be able to.
I have been on child support for my oldest daughter Gianna since she was a little older than 1. I never agreed with child support system and how they calculate the monthly payments, but as long I saw my child and had my time with her which I did I never really argued it. When placed on child support I was still at the time in Army National Guard and working a FT job to support myself and my daughter then had to pick up 2 part time jobs to make more income to pay the amount of child support I was ordered to pay and even then didn’t like it but didn’t fight it. I fell behind a few times but was always able to catch up on any arrears amount owed. My 8 year service with the military ended, the FT job I was working the company went out of business so I left with the 2 part time jobs. This was a blessing and a curse. I didn’t want to reenlist in the military with my daughter getting older and other reasons. However I could no longer pay the full amount I was suppose to pay for Child Support. Only after about 3-4 court cases was I able to finally get the support lowered to a manageable payment and it stayed that way for years. At one point I lost all my jobs and the mother of my daughter even took me off child support and forgave the arrears amount leaving me with nothing owed. That only lasted a short 4 months before I was placed back on child support and started out in arrears. After several more court dates the amount went up I was still able to pay my arrears and my monthly payments .This last time around was way different.
Again I never agreed with the child support system and their calculations or lack of reasoning for a person to raise the amount ,but I always paid my child support ,and still do even when I wasn’t working and was always able to eventually catch up on my arrears. I recently moved to King Of Prussia PA with my current girlfriend who is the mother of my youngest daughter who is 6 months old. We moved for work we both work for Lifetime Fitness (different Locations).I was happy to finally be working one FT job and take care of my family. The mother of my oldest child raised the child when I moved I assumed because my parenting time is now limited to the weekends. But the amount it was raised to is entirely too much for me even with a raise and a promotion I was given at work doesn’t seem to help. I went from paying $230 a month to $750 a month all based off the income was making when 1st placed on child support back in 2012. I filed to have the amount lowered and I was met with 1 week in jail directly from court unable to call my jobs or family ,and nearly losing both my Ft and part time Jobs. this is why I’m asking for help. My current arrears are totaling about $4,500 and I’m currently paying every pay period 425 that’s 850 a month and even the little amount I can spare from the PT job doesn’t seem to help much. I tried everything with court and even tried talking to mother of my child, but seem as long as I’m in arrears I will not be heard I can’t afford a lawyer and I don’t qualify for any legal aid. I feel as if my hand is truly tied. I’m looking to make $2,500 so I can pay off a little more than half of my arrears then refile to have my payments lowered. Any amount raised will go directly toward the arrears, the courts have given me until March 9th to come up with minimum the half the amount of my arrears or they will put out a warrant for my arrest which I will serve more jail time even though I am paying what I can. however if i can come up with the funds prior to the end month that will help me more than ever. I simply just don’t make enough money to pay what they want me to pay im still currently paying almost 900 amonth sometimes even all of my paycheck goes directly to child support.the consequences are somuch deeper than jail time to me i lose time with my not just one child but both children I was written up at my FT upon returning to work after a week in jail even though i explained in detail and was 100% honest if this happens again i will lose my job for sure , again how would i make the payments with the majority of my income gone which in turn affects my living situation etc. I'm literally working from 8am-1am on a daily basis to simply pay for child support for 1 child and still fall short. My end goal is to lower the arrears so i can refile to have it lowered and also to be able to enjoy my time with both my daughters instead of having to constantly work in fear of going back to jail. i want to continue enjoy bein a father to both my daughters as well as take care my responsibilities with child support just at a rate that i can actually do , and will allow me to handle all my responsibiltes as i should be able to.
Organiser
Raheem Jackson
Organiser
King of Prussia, PA
