Government Payback? Stimulus Checks Boost Child Support Deadbeat dads and moms around the country are discovering that their economic stimulus checks from Washington — intended to encourage the purchase of TVs, cars, and other goods — are being intercepted and funneled toward the support of their children. Treasury Department figures obtained by the Associated Press show that more than 1.4 million of the checks have been seized since the payments began last spring, and a total of $831 million has been collected by child support agencies nationwide.