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Child Support Enforcement - Sarpy County Nebraska

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Under title XVI, or SSI (Supplemental Security Income), there are two basic categories<br />

under which a financially needy person can get payments based on disability:<br />

An adult age 18 or over who is disabled.<br />

A child (under age 18) who is disabled.<br />

SSI benefits are available to low income and low resource individuals, including children<br />

under age 18, who do not qualify for Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits. The medical<br />

disability rules are the same as those for Social Security disability. Note: SSI benefits are NOT<br />

subject to income withholding/garnishment under federal law. See 5 CFR §581.104(j).<br />

Regardless of the type, social security benefits may be taxable. Tax obligations ensue<br />

when the recipient has other sources of income besides the disability benefits, or if their spouse<br />

earns a substantial income.<br />

If recipients file a federal tax return as an "individual" and report a combined income<br />

between $25,000 and $34,000, they may have to pay income tax on 50 percent of their Social<br />

Security benefits. For combined incomes above $34,000, up to 85 percent of the Social Security<br />

benefits are subject to income tax.<br />

Recipients who are married and file a joint return may have to pay taxes on 50 percent<br />

of their benefits if the recipient and his/her spouse has a combined income between $32,000<br />

and $44,000. If the combined income is more than $44,000, up to 85 percent of your Social<br />

Security benefits are subject to income tax.<br />

Disabled children under age 18 can be eligible for a special type of Supplemental<br />

Security Income benefits. Social Security has special rules for evaluating the medical basis for<br />

finding a child disabled.<br />

<strong>Child</strong> SSI benefits are only payable if the child meets the medical requirements for<br />

disability published by Social Security and if that child's household falls below an income<br />

threshold. Often disabled children from families where one or both parents work will not qualify<br />

because the parents' income and resources will offset the child's eligibility for benefits.<br />

See www.4socialsecuritydisability.com/index.html for additional information.<br />

Dinges v. Dinges, 16 Neb. App. 275, 743 N.W.2d 662 (2008)<br />

The anti-assignment section of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 407(a) (2000),<br />

states:<br />

The right of any person to any future payment under this subchapter shall not be<br />

transferable or assignable, at law or in equity, and none of the moneys paid or<br />

payable or rights existing under this subchapter shall be subject to execution, levy,<br />

attachment, garnishment, or other legal process, or to the operation of any<br />

bankruptcy or insolvency law.<br />

In Philpott v. Essex <strong>County</strong> Welfare Board, 409 U.S. 413, 417, 93 S.Ct.<br />

590, 34 L.Ed.2d 608 (1973), the U.S. Supreme Court described § 407(a) as<br />

"imposing] a broad bar against the use of any legal process to reach all social<br />

security benefits." However, in 1975, Congress declared that Social Security<br />

benefits were subject to legal process "to enforce the legal obligation of the<br />

individual to provide child support or alimony." 42 U.S.C. § 659(a) (2000).<br />

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