37.62.144    SOCIAL SECURITY AND VETERANS BENEFITS

(1) Social security and veterans benefits which are based on the earning or service record of either parent shall be considered in establishing new support orders or modification of existing orders under the following conditions:

(a) benefits received by the parent on behalf of the minor child are not to be included in that parent's gross income;

(b) the parent's obligation is satisfied if the amount of the child's benefit received for a given month as a result of that parent's earning record is equal to or greater than the parent's child support obligation. Any benefit received by the child for a given month in excess of the child support obligation is not treated as an arrearage payment or as future support;

(c) the parent must pay the difference if the amount of the child's benefit for a given month is less than the parent's child support obligation. This amount is presumed to be paid if the child resides with that parent a majority of the time; and

(d) whenever either parent receives for the benefit of the child, a lump sum payment which represents an accumulation of monthly benefits:

(i) the lump sum payment should not be treated as income of the parent; and

(ii) the lump sum should be credited to that parent's child support obligation for each month a payment accumulated for the child's benefit.

 

History: 40-5-203, MCA; IMP, 40-5-209, MCA; NEW, 1998 MAR p. 2066, Eff. 11/1/98; AMD, 2017 MAR p. 2441, Eff. 12/23/17.