SpringfieldNewsSun.com

Springfield, Ohio — It was not an easy decision.

But Jason Kutter, 34, had to choose the best way to support his 7-year-old child while supporting himself after he lost his job.

He got laid off from Dayton-based ABF Freight in November after 81/2 years of there. His child support payments were taking up more than half of his weekly unemployment check.

Kutter ended up applying for, and being granted, a review and an adjustment of his child support payments — bringing down his monthly payment of $691 to just under $260. The change took about three months to take effect after Kutter met the qualifications, he said.

His child's mother is "remarried and she has a second income," Kutter said. "I'm on one fixed low income at the moment.

"I thought about it quite a bit," he added. "I just wasn't sure it was the right thing to do, but then again, I have to survive also."

Still looking for a job, Kutter will also start school in April, after participating in a county WorkPlus job training program.

Kutter is just one case in the 15 percent jump in child support review and adjustments that Child Support Services of Clark County officials have seen since this time last year, said Assistant Deputy Director Ellen Carey.

"Usually, with all the layoffs, there are more parties eligible for review," Carey explained. "More parties are eligible because they are completing the paperwork."

From the July 2008 to January 2009, there were 306 review and adjustments, compared to 269 during that same six-month period a year ago, Carey said. There has been a slight decline in the amount of child support paid as well, but Carey said it is too early to attribute the decrease to review and adjustments.

It's a different situation in Champaign County: there's been no increase in review and adjustments, but officials are encouraging people to apply if there has been a decrease in their income.

"We'd rather have people ask for review and adjustments than not pay at all," said Patti Current, director of the county's child support enforcement agency.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0374 or boutten@coxohio.com.