For ABD-related benefits, child support is usually counted as income for the child for whom it is intended. Refer to article ABD: How to Code Child Support 1/3 Deduction for Child with Disability for explanation on how to count the child support when determining eligibility for a child who has a disability.

If eligibility is being determined for the parent, the child support is not counted. If the eligible person has an ineligible spouse, the child support is deducted from the child’s ineligible child allocation. Refer to the following articles for a detailed process:

• ABD: Ineligible Minor Child Allocation
• ABD: Determining Eligibility of Eligible Individual with an Ineligible Spouse

A complication arises when the child no longer lives with the parent receiving the child support. The child support is sent to the parent even if the child is not living with that parent, especially when it goes through DHS. This same procedure will apply when the parent is getting delinquent support for a child who is now an adult.

When the child out of the home, it needs to be determined what the parent is doing with the child support.

• Any part of the child support the parent keeps is countable income for the parent. It will be coded as a “Contribution” in FACS.
• Minor Child: If the parent reports sending all or some of the child support to the minor child for whom it is intended, get a statement from the child’s caregiver that states how much is being received by them. 
• Adult Child: If the parent is sending the child support to the adult child for whom it is intended, get a statement from the adult child that states how much is being received.

Article Credit:
Missie Carlile
Renee Humphrey