| The issue surrounding social security benefits and | | | | collect from the non-custodial parent, though. Some |
| supplemental security insurance continues to be a | | | | states require that child support be paid in addition to |
| major question with custodial and non-custodial | | | | the Social Security dependents benefits that the child |
| parents. Let’s clear up the confusion once and for | | | | receives. |
| all. Social Security benefits mainly refers to a field of | | | | Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) benefits cannot |
| social welfare concerned with social protection, or | | | | be garnished for child support. A judge/administrator |
| protection against socially recognized needs, including | | | | might consider the income from SSI when setting child |
| poverty, old age, disability, death, unemployment, | | | | support. For more information about this, you can |
| involving families with children and others. Supplemental | | | | check with the state CSE agency through the link |
| Security Insurance is a supplement to an individual’s | | | | below or the Social Security Administration site at: Visit |
| income based on need. The purpose of SSI benefits is | | | | to learn the treatment of child support in the SSI |
| to reassure that the income of an individual is | | | | program under current law. |
| maintained at a level viewed by Congress as the | | | | According to the National Library of Medicine, “less |
| minimum necessary for subsistence. | | | | than half of all children who receive Supplemental |
| When Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits | | | | Security Income (SSI) benefits and live in a |
| have been assigned to a non-custodial parent (who | | | | single-parent home receive child support services. |
| has retired because of age or disability) the benefits | | | | Although filing for child support is a condition of eligibility |
| can be attached for child support. Child support cannot | | | | for income assistance programs such as Temporary |
| be taken from someone's social security benefits until | | | | Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), it is not a |
| the person begins to receive benefits. | | | | condition of eligibility for SSI benefits. Requiring single |
| A garnishment can be placed against a beneficiary's | | | | custodial parents applying for SSI on behalf of their |
| social security check to collect on a child support | | | | children to pursue child support payments might result |
| obligation even if the child has passed the age of | | | | in more children on SSI receiving child support, and |
| majority. The custodial parent can request payment of | | | | since the Social Security Administration (SSA) |
| back child support from the beneficiary’s social | | | | excludes one-third of child support when determining |
| security check. | | | | benefit amounts, increased receipt of child support |
| A court or administrator can order that the Social | | | | would enhance the financial well-being of SSI children. |
| Security dependents benefits paid by SSA on behalf | | | | Improving access to data on child support would |
| of a child replace child support. Until the order is | | | | enhance the integrity of the SSI program by reducing |
| changed, the state will probably have to continue to | | | | overpayments to children receiving child support. |