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S4983Senate2019-2020 SessionSame asA7004

Credit Child Social Security Benefits

Official title

“Requires reduction of a parent's child support obligation by the amount of social security dependent benefits received by the child”

Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValleSD-1Affects Legal
Status
In Senate Committee
Judiciary
Impact
5/10
Moderate
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Judiciary

What's happening

This bill allows a parent's child support obligation to be reduced by the amount of Social Security dependent benefits received by their child.

Why it matters

  1. Aligns child support calculations with actual family income. By crediting Social Security dependent benefits to the parent whose earnings generated them, the bill ensures that the total support a child receives is accurately reflected and avoids "double counting" support obligations.

  2. Reduces financial burden on parents receiving Social Security. Parents who are disabled, retired, or otherwise receiving Social Security can have their direct child support payments reduced by the amount the child receives in dependent benefits, potentially easing financial strain during periods of reduced earning capacity.

  3. Creates more consistency and predictability in court decisions. The amendment standardizes how Social Security dependent benefits are factored into support orders, reducing ambiguity and the likelihood of inconsistent rulings across different cases or jurisdictions.

  4. May affect both custodial and non-custodial parents. While typically benefiting non-custodial parents whose children receive Social Security dependent benefits, the bill could also impact custodial parents by potentially reducing the total direct child support payments they receive, though the child’s overall benefits remain unchanged.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Credit Child Social Security Benefits

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Kenneth P. LaValle

Senator · Senate District 1

No co-sponsors yet.

History

  1. Referred to judiciary
  2. Referred to judiciary

Companion bill

The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.

A7004Assembly

Credit Social Security to Support

In Assembly Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Fred Thiele

Impact 5 · Moderate0% to pass

Full text

3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

S. 4983 A. 7004

2019-2020 Regular Sessions

SENATE - ASSEMBLY

April 3, 2019

IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary

IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary

AN ACT to amend the family court act and the domestic relations law, in relation to reducing a parent's child support obligation by the amount of social security dependent benefits received by the child

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. Subparagraph 1 of paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 413 of the family court act, as amended by chapter 567 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:

(1) "Basic child support obligation" shall mean the sum derived by adding the amounts determined by the application of subparagraphs two and three of paragraph (c) of this subdivision except as increased pursuant to subparagraphs four, five, six and seven of such paragraph and decreased pursuant to subparagraph eight of such paragraph.

§ 2. Clause (iii) of subparagraph 5 of paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 413 of the family court act, as amended by chapter 567 of the laws of 1989, subclauses (G) and (H) as amended and subclause (I) as added by chapter 387 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:

(iii) to the extent not already included in gross income in clauses (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph, the amount of income or compensation voluntarily deferred and income received, if any, from the following sources:

(A) workers' compensation,

(B) disability benefits,

(C) unemployment insurance benefits,

(D) social security benefits,

(E) veterans benefits,

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

SA LBD03269-01-9

S. 4983 2 A. 7004

(F) pensions and retirement benefits,

(G) fellowships and stipends,

(H) annuity payments, [and]

(I) alimony or maintenance actually paid or to be paid to a spouse who is a party to the instant action pursuant to an existing court order or contained in the order to be entered by the court, or pursuant to a validly executed written agreement, in which event the order or agreement shall provide for a specific adjustment, in accordance with this subdivision, in the amount of child support payable upon the termination of alimony or maintenance to such spouse; provided, however, that the specific adjustment in the amount of child support is without prejudice to either party's right to seek a modification in accordance with subdivision three of section four hundred fifty-one of this article. In an action or proceeding to modify an order of child support, including an order incorporating without merging an agreement, issued prior to the effective date of this subclause, the provisions of this subclause shall not, by themselves, constitute a substantial change of circumstances pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision three of section four hundred fifty-one of this article[.], and

(J) social security dependent benefits received by the child or children due to the earnings of the parent;

§ 3. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 413 of the family court act is amended by adding a new subparagraph 8 to read as follows:

(8) Social security benefits received by the child or children due to the earnings of a parent shall be credited as child support to the parent upon whose earning record it is based.

§ 4. Subparagraph 1 of paragraph (b) of subdivision 1-b of section 240 of the domestic relations law, as added by chapter 567 of the laws of 1989, is amended to read as follows:

(1) "Basic child support obligation" shall mean the sum derived by adding the amounts determined by the application of subparagraphs two and three of paragraph (c) of this subdivision except as increased pursuant to subparagraphs four, five, six and seven of such paragraph and decreased pursuant to subparagraph eight of such paragraph.

§ 5. Clause (iii) of subparagraph 5 of paragraph (b) of subdivision 1-b of section 240 of the domestic relations law, as added by chapter 567 of the laws of 1989, subclauses (G) and (H) as amended and subclause (I) as added by chapter 387 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:

(iii) to the extent not already included in gross income in clauses (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph, the amount of income or compensation voluntarily deferred and income received, if any, from the following sources:

(A) workers' compensation,

(B) disability benefits,

(C) unemployment insurance benefits,

(D) social security benefits,

(E) veterans benefits,

(F) pensions and retirement benefits,

(G) fellowships and stipends,

(H) annuity payments, [and]

(I) alimony or maintenance actually paid or to be paid to a spouse who is a party to the instant action pursuant to an existing court order or contained in the order to be entered by the court, or pursuant to a validly executed written agreement, in which event the order or agreement shall provide for a specific adjustment, in accordance with this

S. 4983 3 A. 7004

subdivision, in the amount of child support payable upon the termination of alimony or maintenance to such spouse; provided, however, that the specific adjustment in the amount of child support is without prejudice to either party's right to seek a modification in accordance with subparagraph two of paragraph b of subdivision nine of part B of section two hundred thirty-six of this article. In an action or proceeding to modify an order of child support, including an order incorporating without merging an agreement, issued prior to the effective date of this subclause, the provisions of this subclause shall not, by themselves, constitute a substantial change of circumstances pursuant to paragraph b of subdivision nine of part B of section two hundred thirty-six of this article[.], and

(J) social security dependent benefits received by the child or children due to the earnings of the parent;

§ 6. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1-b of section 240 of the domestic relations law is amended by adding a new subparagraph 8 to read as follows:

(8) Social security benefits received by the child or children due to the earnings of a parent shall be credited as child support to the parent upon whose earning record it is based.

§ 7. This act shall take effect immediately.

Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.

Sponsor's memo

Title of bill

An act to amend the family court act and the domestic relations law, in relation to reducing a parent's child support obli- gation by the amount of social security dependent benefits received by the child

PURPOSE::

Requires a reduction of a parent's child support obligation by the amount of social security dependent benefits received by the child.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::

Section 1. Subparagraph of paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 413 of the family court act, as amended by chapter 567 of the laws of 1989, is amended.

Section 2. Clause (iii) of subparagraph 5 of paragraph (b) of subdivi- sion 1 of section 413 of the family court act, as amended by chapter 567 of the laws of 1989, sub clauses (g) and (h) as amended and sub clause (i) as added by chapter 387 of the laws of 2015, is amended;

Section 3. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 413 of the family court act is amended by adding a new paragraph 8;

Section 4. Subparagraph 1 of paragraph (b) of subdivision 1-b of section 240 of the domestic relations law, as added by chapter 567 of the laws of 1989, is amended;

Section 5. Clause (iii) of subparagraph 5 of paragraph (b) of subdivi- sion 1-b of section 240 of the domestic relations law, as added by chap- ter 567 of the laws, of 1989, sub clauses (g) and (h) as amended and sub clause (i) as added by chapter 387 of the laws of 201 5 is amended;

Section 6. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1-b of section 240 of the domes- tic relations law is amended by adding a new sub paragraph 8;

Section 7. Effective date.

JUSTIFICATION::

There are many instances in New York State where a non-custodial parent is paying child support, mandated by a court order, and Social Security Benefit payments are not counted against the support. Some states have created laws where the Social Security Benefit counts dollar for dollar against a non-custodial parent's obligation to support his or her child. This bill would not grant an automatic child support payment reduction by the non-custodial parent where Social Security Benefits are received. The non-custodial parent would have to seek the reduction through the mandated court order where child support payment amounts are specif- ically spelled out. This can happen at the initial child support agree- ment or relief can be sought if benefits are received after the date of the agreement.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::

2017-18 S.4017/A.8716; 2015-16 S.796/A.655; 2013-14 S.2005/A.1888; 2011-12 S.4547/A.7070; 2010 A.9210

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS::

None to the State.

EFFECTIVE DATE::

Immediately.

Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.