By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The Missouri Department of Social Services is disputing the results of a state audit into its child support payment system.
An audit reported that as of February, the state had been holding $4 million worth of unpaid child support collections.
But Social Services says 99 percent of nearly $4 billion collected during the audit period was distributed.
Spokeswoman Deborah Scott says the system is working more efficiently than is being characterized.
"We are committed to continuing to improve it," Scott said. "There are some recommendations that the auditor recommended that are already in progress and that were in progress when the audit was ongoing."
Scott says an electronic benefit payment system slated for implementation next July should reduce unpaid collections to virtually zero.