This is the story of how the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS) misled me about the child support payments I was supposed to receive for my boys and then conspired to paint me as the villain when I uncovered their mismanagement. Here’s my personal experience with MDHS, particularly the Grenada branch, and how their failure to do their jobs caused immense stress and financial strain on my family.
In June 2022, after my husband and I separated, he voluntarily requested to be put on child support. I filed the necessary paperwork, but I was never informed about the specific amount I was supposed to receive. By October 2022, payments began, fluctuating between $180 and $333 monthly—never consistent and never reaching the amount I later learned I was owed.
Fast forward to tax season in 2023: My husband and I filed jointly, and our $10,000 tax refund was seized. After contacting the IRS, we discovered $3,000 was taken due to my husband’s unfiled taxes from the previous year, which was understandable. However, $7,000 went to child support—an amount that made no sense.
On April 30, 2024, I visited the Grenada MDHS office to investigate. What followed was a shocking display of incompetence and hostility. They refused to provide privacy and openly discussed my case in the lobby. When I presented paystubs proving my husband had consistently paid in full (even overpaid), they became defensive and dismissive. The supervisor claimed discrepancies were due to “missing information” from his employer, causing funds to go into an untraceable account. She even insinuated that the employer was at fault.
Determined, I contacted my husband’s employer, who provided evidence contradicting MDHS’s claims. Payments were sent correctly and on time, yet MDHS wasn’t disbursing the full amounts to me. Armed with this information, I returned to the office the next day, this time with my 4-year-old son. The supervisor refused to escalate the issue or allow me to speak to her superior. Instead, she became visibly upset and called the police to remove me from the premises, with my child present.
The police surrounded my car as I tried to explain the situation to a Jackson-based MDHS supervisor over the phone. Despite moving to different parking lots to avoid confrontation, the police continued to harass me. All this unfolded in front of my young son, who, thankfully, was occupied with his tablet but sensed the tension.
Later, my husband’s employer spoke directly to MDHS, highlighting their mishandling of funds and demanding answers. MDHS admitted to “reviewing the case” but claimed they could only speak to my husband. Days later, I began receiving full payments and back payments, though MDHS never explained the discrepancies.
Shockingly, MDHS retaliated by initiating a SNAP (food stamp) fraud investigation against me. During the appointment, the agent alleged that my husband’s income wasn’t reported —a claim that was baseless, as we had provided all requested documentation at the time. Despite this, I realized MDHS was more interested in deflecting blame than addressing their systemic issues.
Frustrated, my husband and I decided to close the child support case entirely. I submitted the request in August 2024, yet by November, MDHS sent notices of “back time support” they had still been trying to collect after request of closure with threats to suspend my husband’s license. Their refusal to acknowledge the case closure request or correct their errors further underscores their negligence.
This ordeal revealed the deep flaws within MDHS and its branches. If they could mishandle my family’s case this severely, they could do it to anyone. My hope in sharing this story is to bring awareness to MDHS’s practices and to advocate for accountability and reform. Families deserve better! MDHS still refuses to address these issues so I will tell my story and ensure that it's everywhere until it's resolved. I highly suggest you check your case and make sure your not a victim yourself.