Hello Guys, I filed for my child’s SSI disability benefits. Although money has not arrived in my bank account, I did receive an approval letter this week.
His father and I finalized our divorce last week, and I now have a child support order.
Can someone please explain how child support will affect our payments?
I know I have to update them, which I am doing. I fear that I will have to reimburse what has already been sent.
Is it possible to stop the reduction of the disability payment caused by child support?
According to what I have read, just one-third of child support is deductible from social security benefits; yet, it nearly accounts for the entire amount!
Child support payments can impact your child’s SSI disability benefits @NatalieWoods. Typically, one-third of the monthly child support payment is deducted from countable income when calculating SSI payments. The remaining two-thirds is deemed countable income, which may reduce your child’s SSI benefits.
It is critical to notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) of any changes in your financial circumstances, including receiving child support. While it is usually not possible to avoid a reduction in disability payments due to child support, you should discuss your individual circumstances with the SSA or a legal counsel who specialises in disability benefits to explore all of your alternatives.
If you are concerned about having to refund payments, contacting the SSA directly will offer you with the most precise information for your specific situation.
One-Third Exclusion: The Social Security Administration (SSA) excludes one-third of your child’s child support payment from countable income when determining their SSI benefit amount.
Reduction in Benefits: The remaining two-thirds of the child support payment is subtracted from their SSI federal benefit rate, potentially reducing the monthly benefit amount.
Example:
Let’s say your child’s monthly SSI benefit is $800 and the monthly child support amount is $600.
The SSA excludes $200 (one-third of $600).
The remaining $400 (two-thirds of $600) is subtracted from the benefit amount.
In this scenario, the child’s SSI benefit might be reduced to $400 ($800 - $400).
What You Can Do:
Report the Change: It is important to update the SSA about the child support order to ensure they have accurate information to calculate your child’s SSI benefit amount.
Limited Options for Stopping Reduction: Generally, there’s no way to prevent the reduction in SSI benefits caused by child support. The one-third exclusion is a rule set by law.
Reimbursement is Unlikely:
The SSA typically doesn’t ask for reimbursement of benefits already paid if the change in circumstances (child support order) happened recently. They will adjust future benefits based on the new information.
Recommendations:
Contact the SSA: Call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to speak with a representative and get clarification on your specific situation. They can explain the exact impact of child support on your child’s benefits.
Appeal Denied Benefits (if applicable): If the SSA significantly reduces your child’s benefits, you might have the right to appeal the decision. The SSA representative can provide guidance on the appeals process.
Congrats on getting the approval letter for your child’s SSI benefits. Once you update Social Security about the child support order, they may adjust your SSI payments. It can be a bit nerve-wracking because they might deduct some of the SSI amount to cover the child support. From what I know, they usually deduct up to one-third of the child support from your SSI benefits. It can feel like a lot, but it’s important to keep them informed to avoid any issues down the line.
Hang in there, and hopefully, everything gets sorted smoothly for you and your child.