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SNAPCERTIFICATION MANUAL –SECTION 6000 6500 Medical Deduction 6552 Verification of Child Support Payments
6551 Determining Amount of Child Support Deduction SNAP Manual 01/01/2021 The child support deduction must reflect the child support the household expects to pay during the certification period rather than the obligated amount. Exception: Child support paid on a basis less frequently than monthly, such as annually or quarterly may be averaged forward for the period the payment is intended to cover. The amount of the child support deduction will be based on the average amount paid if the average amount does not exceed the obligated amount. If the court has ordered a change in the obligated amount, this change must be considered when establishing the child support deduction. For example, if a recent court order has increased the child support from twenty-five dollars ($25.00) to fifty dollars ($50.00) per week and the household states they will meet this new obligation, fifty dollars ($50.00) per week will be anticipated as the child support payment. For households submitting an initial application, the average must be basedon at least three (3) months’ payments unless there is less than three (3) months’ history. If there is less than three (3) months’ history, the average will be basedon the payments made to date. If there is no payment history, the child support deduction will be anticipated based on the amount the household is obligated to pay plus the household’s statement of what it intends to pay.
If the household states it will pay less than the obligated amount, the lesser amount will be deducted. In no instance will the amount deducted exceed the obligated amount. For households submitting a subsequent application, the average will be basedon the child support paid during the previous certification period with appropriate adjustments for any change in the amount of obligation. See SNAP 1622.9, 1623.1, and 1623.2.
6552 Verification of Child Support Payments SNAP Manual 01/01/2021 At initial application, both the obligation to pay child support and the amount of deductible child support paid must be verified. The household will be the primary source of verification of the legal obligation to pay child support, the amount of the obligation, and the amount paid. Any document that verifies the obligation to pay child support, such as a court order, administrative order, or legally enforceable separation agreement, would be sufficient verification of the obligation and obligated amount.