Per La. R.S. 9:315.8(D), the payor parent owes the total child support obligation less any court-ordered direct payments in Line 8. However, La. R.S. 9:315.14 requires a minimum child support award of $100 per month except in shared or split custody as provided in R.S. 9:315.9–.10. If the obligor has a medically documented disability that limits the obligor’s ability to meet the mandatory minimum, the court may set an award of less than $100.
When a client is on SSI, SSI is not included in gross income.1 In State v. Duncan,2 the court recognized the statutory prohibition against counting SSI as income. This is an exception to the mandatory minimum award, and, as always, courts may deviate.