Perhaps. A lot of people think that if they share equal parenting time with their children, then neither parent will pay child support. This is often untrue. The child support calculations in Michigan are based on a formula. The formula considers various factors including: income, health insurance, daycare costs, and overnights along with other factors. Even if two parents have the same number of overnights, one parent may in fact pay child support. This usually occurs in cases when one parent makes substantially more money than the other parent

The purpose of the child support formula is to balance the needs and incomes of the parties without impoverishing either party. Therefore, in order to keep the children accustom to the same stand of living in each individual household, child support may be necessary.

The answer to this question is likely nothing. The Friend of the Court does not hear complaints regarding alleged misappropriation of child support payments. The court assumes that child support is being spent on necessities for the children. There is no system that will analyze the way in which a person spends child support payments.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is for low income elderly people who do not qualify for Social Security Disability (SDD). If you are receiving Supplemental Security Income your child support payments will not be automatically withdrew from your award. If however, you are receiving SSD, your child support obligation can be automatically withdrawn from this benefit.

If you have a minor child and you are receiving SSD, it is likely that the Social Security Administration will award a benefit to the minor child as well as yourself. If the Social Security Administration also pays a benefit to the minor child or the custodial parent, then this benefit may replace or contribute to your child support obligation.

In the State of Michigan, actual, predictable, and responsible child care expenses are considered for purposes of child support. The cost of child care will be allocated between the parents.

In Michigan, the courts presume that “the need for child care continues until August 31^st following the child’s twelfth birthday.” 2013 MCSF Manual 3.06(D). Nevertheless, the court has the discretion to allocate the cost for child care expenses beyond a child’s twelfth birthday if the health or safety of the child so requires.

If you are the noncustodial parent and payer of child support who also receives SSDI, your children are also likely receiving a benefit from the Social Security Administration (SSA) based on your disability. If so, you will receive a credit towards your child support obligation.

For example, if you are court ordered to pay $310.00 a month in child support, but the children already receive a benefit of $320.00 per month from the SSA, you will not likely be obligated to pay any child support.

On the other hand, if you are court ordered to pay $310.00 a month in child support and the children only receive $250.00 per month from the SSA, you will still be obligated to pay the difference between the court ordered obligation and the SSDI award.