Page 12

TANF TANF TANF TANF TANF TANF TANF TANF SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP SNAP 640.4.1 Child Support Payments There are some circumstances which require the factoring of Child Support Income. Each case must be individually evaluated for the correct budgeting method. Do not factor Child Support Income if: 1. There is a court order which specifies the monthly garnishment/payment will never go over a specified amount per month. Example: Court ordered amount is $500/mo, with arrears of $50/mo. There were two payments made in the month of $275 each. Budget $550 and do not factor the income. 2. There is a court order which documents that either the District Attorney’s office or State Child Support Enforcement has computed the wage withholding by taking the monthly court ordered amount and annualizing it. This is done by taking the monthly ordered amount, multiplying it by 12 and dividing the total by the frequency of the NCP’s pay period. The actual payment will never exceed the court order for the year’s period. Example: The court ordered payment is $200/mo, and the NCP is paid weekly. Multiply $200 times 12 months/divided by 52 pay periods for a weekly payment of $46.15 being paid to the CST. Because the total payment will not exceed the $2,400 for the year, the income can be annualized and the court ordered monthly amount of $200 budgeted to the household. Do factor Child Support if: 1. The CST receives regular weekly or bi-weekly payments. Example: A court order will sometimes allow the obligation to be annualized and garnished every payday. 2. The CST regularly receives money above the monthly child support obligation. Example: The child support order specified $200/mo. child support and $10/mo. in arrearages. The CST has a long history of receiving $60/week. SEP is applying the extra child support obligation received to the arrearages and forwarding the monies to the CST. In this case, factoring is the best method to project the income. If the support payments are irregular in amount or frequency, an average may be the best available method for projecting the income. Prudent worker judgment must be practiced. Newly Established Child Support Payments: For child support payments with no history, use the court order along with the NCP and/or CST statement(s) to project the amount of child support the household anticipates receiving. A-640.4.1 BUDGETING Child Support Payments Division of Social Services Eligibility and Payments Manual 11 Aug 25 MTL 10/25