Tax refunds are helping children receive their court-ordered child support from parents who haven't paid.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services said it intercepted more than $13.4 million in 2008 tax refunds from parents who owed child support but hadn't paid.

The number is a 50 percent increase over the federal fiscal year 2007, when DHHS collected $8.7 million through intercepts.

So, how is the department able to intercept the refunds? It's part of the Federal Income Tax Refund Offset Program, which affects any parent who owes more than $500 in child support.

“This program ensures that parents who can pay, but don’t, aren’t rewarded with a substantial refund at this time of year. It ensures that money gets to the right place to meet the needs of the children, who rightly deserve it," said Todd Reckling, director of the DHHS Division of Children and Family Services.

DHHS intercepted 18,735 federal refunds in FFY 2008. This includes tax refunds, salary, retirement, and federal stimulus money. The average intercepted check amount was for $713, but the state has claimed refund checks of as high as $9,900.

Interceptions of other payments also resulted in increased collections between FFY 2007 and FFY 2008:
• An 18 % increase in garnished unemployment insurance benefits;
• A 7 % increase in income withholding orders; and
• A 22 % increase in state revenue tax offset.

Parents who owe more than three months of past due support could lose their hunting, fishing, drivers or professional licenses.

In FFY 2008, Nebraska’s child support collections totaled $196.6 million.