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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 05/2018

CHILD AND SPOUSAL SUPPORT DEDUCTIONS

0018.33

MFIP: Deduct the actual child support, spousal support, child care support, and medical support that a unit member pays for a person not living in the assistance unit's household. This deduction applies to any payment, whether current or arrears. This deduction applies only to the income of the person legally required to pay support, not to other unit income.

Do not allow administrative fees charged by the employer for income withholding services as a child support deduction.

Verify the amount of support paid monthly for monthly reporters. For all others, verify at application, recertification, and when they report a change.

DWP: Follow MFIP, EXCEPT the references to monthly reporter and recertification do NOT apply.

SNAP: Deduct court-ordered child support that a person whose income is counted pays to or for a non-household member(s), including vendor payments made on the other household's behalf, and payments made to obtain health insurance for the child(ren).

This deduction applies to unit income. This deduction applies to any payment, whether current or arrears.

Allow this deduction after the earned income deduction, but before the shelter deduction.

Allow this deduction only for support actually paid.

Do not allow administrative fees charged by the employer for income withholding services as a child support deduction.

Use the multiplier to determine the actual child support payments that are paid weekly, bi-weekly, monthly and semi-monthly. The multiplier is:

- 4.3 for weekly costs.

- 2.15 for bi-weekly costs.

- 1 for monthly costs.

- 2 for semi-monthly costs.

For prospectively budgeted units, calculate court-ordered payments based on payments expected to be made during the certification period. Do not annualize the Child Support deduction.

● When the amount of court-ordered child support paid in the 30 days prior to application is an indicator of the amount expected to be paid during the certification period with reasonable certainty, anticipate the deduction based on that amount.

● When the amount of court-ordered child support paid in the 30 days prior to application is not an indicator of the amount expected to be paid during the certification period, anticipate the deduction based on the payments made in the most recent 3 months unless it is reasonably certain that a change will occur OR use a reasonable period of time if needed.

Document in CASE/NOTE how the deduction was determined.

For units that contain ineligible non-citizens, ineligible ABAWDs, and non-applicants, or unit members disqualified for non- compliance with Social Security enumeration requirements who pay court-ordered child support:

1. Prorate the amount of court-ordered child support paid by the ineligible person or disqualified unit member among household members.