Rule 1910.16-2. Support Guidelines. Calculation of Monthly Net Income.
Generally, the basic child support, spousal support, or alimony pendente lite obligation is based on the parties monthly net incomes.
(a) Monthly Gross Income. Monthly gross income is ordinarily based on at least a six-month average of a partys income. The support law, 23 Pa.C.S. § 4302, defines the term income and includes income from any source. The statute lists many types of income including, but not limited to:
(1) wages, salaries, bonuses, fees, and commissions;
(2) net income from business or dealings in property;
(3) interest, rents, royalties, and dividends;
(4) pensions and all forms of retirement;
(5) income from an interest in an estate or trust;
(6) Social Security disability benefits, Social Security retirement benefits, temporary and permanent disability benefits, workers compensation, and unemployment compensation;
(7) alimony if, in the trier-of-facts discretion, inclusion of part or all of it is appropriate; and
Official Note
In determining the appropriateness of including alimony in gross income, the trier-of-fact shall consider whether the party receiving the alimony must include the amount received as gross income when filing federal income taxes. If the alimony is not includable in the partys gross income for federal income tax purposes, the trier-of-fact may include in the partys monthly net income the alimony received, as appropriate. See Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-2(c)(2)(ii).
Since the reasons for ordering payment of alimony vary, the appropriateness of including it in the recipients gross income must also vary. For example, if the obligor is paying $1,000 per month in alimony for the express purpose of financing the obligees college education, it would be inappropriate to consider that alimony as income from which the obligee could provide child support. However, if alimony is intended to finance the obligees general living expenses, inclusion of the alimony as income is appropriate.
(8) other entitlements to money or lump sum awards, without regard to source, including:
(i) lottery winnings;
(ii) income tax refunds;
(iii) insurance compensation or settlements;
(iv) awards and verdicts; and
(v) payments due to and collectible by an individual regardless of source.
Official Note
The trier-of-fact determines the most appropriate method for imputing lump-sum awards as income for purposes of establishing or modifying the partys support obligation. These awards may be annualized or averaged over a shorter or longer period depending on the cases circumstances. The trier-of-fact may require all or part of the lump sum award escrowed to secure the support obligation during that period.
The trier-of-fact shall not include income tax refunds in a partys income, if the trier-of-fact factored in the tax refund when calculating the partys actual tax obligation and monthly net income.
(b) Treatment of Public Assistance, SSI Benefits, Social Security Payments to a Child Due to a Parents Death, Disability or Retirement and Foster Care Payments.
(1) Public Assistance and SSI Benefits. Neither public assistance nor Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits shall be included as income for determining support.
(2) Childs Social Security Derivative Benefits.
(i) If a child is receiving Social Security derivative benefits due to a parents retirement or disability:
(A) The trier-of-fact shall determine the basic child support obligation as follows:
(I) add the childs benefit to the monthly net income of the party who receives the childs benefit;
(II) calculate the parties combined monthly net income, including the childs benefit;
(III) determine the basic child support obligation set forth in the Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-3 schedule; and
(IV) apportion the basic child support obligation between the parties based on the partys percentage of the combined monthly net income.
(B) If the obligee receives the childs benefit, the trier-of-fact shall deduct the childs benefit from the basic child support obligation of the party whose retirement or disability created the childs benefit.
(C) If the obligor receives the childs benefit, the trier-of-fact shall not deduct the childs benefit from the obligors basic child support obligation, even if the obligors retirement or disability created the childs benefit. To illustrate for the parties the impact of the obligor receiving the benefit instead of the obligee, the trier-of-fact shall provide the parties with two calculations theoretically assigning the benefit to each household.
(D) The trier-of-fact shall allocate the expenses in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-6(a)(e) based on the parties monthly net incomes without considering the childs benefit.
(E) In equally shared custody cases, the party with the higher monthly net income, excluding the childs benefit, is the obligor.
(ii) If a child is receiving Social Security derivative benefits due to a parents death, the trier-of-fact shall determine the surviving parents basic child support obligation as follows:
(A) The non-parent obligees monthly net income shall include only those funds the obligee is receiving on the childs behalf, including the Social Security derivative benefit.
(B) If the surviving-parent obligor receives the Social Security derivative benefit, the benefit shall be added to the parents monthly net income to calculate child support.
(3) Foster Care Payments. If a party to a support action is a foster parent or is receiving payments from a public or private agency for the care of a child who is not the partys biological or adoptive child, the trier-of-fact shall not include those payments in the partys monthly net income for purposes of calculating child support for the foster parents or other caretakers biological or adoptive child.
Example 1. The obligor has monthly net income of $2,000. The obligees monthly net income is $1,500 and the obligee, as primary custodial parent of the parties two children, receives $700 per month in Social Security derivative benefits on behalf of the children as a result of the obligors disability. Add the childrens benefit to the obligees income, which now is $2,200 per month. At the parties combined monthly net income of $4,200, the basic child support obligation for two children is $1,372. As the obligors income is 48% of the parties combined monthly net income, the obligors preliminary share of the basic child support obligation is $659. However, because the obligors disability created the childrens Social Security derivative benefits that the obligee is receiving, the obligors obligation is reduced by the amount of the benefit, $700. As the support obligation cannot be less than zero, the obligors basic child support obligation is $0 per month. If it were the obligees disability that created the benefit, the obligors basic child support obligation would remain $659. If the obligor were receiving the childrens benefit as a result of the obligors retirement or disability, the obligors monthly net income would include the amount of the benefit and total $2,700, or 64% of the parties combined monthly net income. The obligors share of the basic child support obligation would then be $878 and would not be reduced by the amount of the childrens benefit because the obligor, not the obligee, is receiving the benefit. Therefore, the obligors basic child support obligation is less if the obligee is receiving the benefit created by the obligor.
Example 2. Two children live with Grandmother who receives $800 per month in Social Security death benefits for the children as a result of Fathers death. Grandmother also receives $500 per month from a trust established by Father for the benefit of the children. Grandmother is employed and earns $2,000 net per month. Grandmother seeks support from the childrens mother, who earns $2,000 net per month. For purposes of calculating Mothers basic child support obligation, Grandmothers income will be $1,300, the amount she receives on the childrens behalf in Social Security derivative benefits and the trust income. (If Mother were receiving the benefit on the childrens behalf, the benefit would be added to Mothers monthly net income and would be $2,800. Grandmothers monthly net income would be $500.) Therefore, Mothers and Grandmothers combined monthly net income totals $3,300. The basic child support obligation at the $3,300 monthly net income level for two children is $1,137. As Mothers monthly net income of $2,000 is 61% of the parties combined monthly net income of $3,300, Mothers basic child support obligation is $694. Since Mothers retirement or disability did not generate the childs derivative benefit, the benefit amount is not subtracted from Mothers basic child support obligation, and Mother owes Grandmother $694. If Grandmother was not receiving the childrens derivative benefits or trust income, Grandmothers monthly net income for purposes of calculating Mothers basic child support obligation would be zero, and Mother would pay 100% of the basic child support obligation because Grandmother has no duty to support the children.
Official Note
Care must be taken to distinguish Social Security from Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Social Security benefits are income pursuant to subdivision (a) of this rule.
(c) Monthly Net Income.
(1) Unless these rules provide otherwise, the trier-of-fact shall deduct only the following items from monthly gross income to arrive at monthly net income:
(i) federal, state, and local income taxes;
(ii) unemployment compensation taxes and Local Services Taxes (LST);
(iii) F.I.C.A. payments (Social Security, Medicare and Self-Employment taxes) and non-voluntary retirement payments;
(iv) mandatory union dues; and
(v) alimony paid to the other party.
(2) In computing a spousal support or alimony pendente lite obligation, the trier-of-fact shall:
(i) deduct from the obligors monthly net income child support, spousal support, alimony pendente lite, or alimony amounts paid to children and former spouses, who are not part of this action; and
(ii) include in a partys monthly net income alimony pendente lite or alimony received from a former spouse that was not included in the partys gross income, as provided in subdivision (a).
Official Note
Since the reasons for ordering payment of alimony vary, the appropriateness of including it in the recipients monthly net income must also vary. For example, if the obligor is paying $1,000 per month in alimony for the express purpose of financing the obligees college education, it would be inappropriate to consider that alimony as income from which the obligee could provide child support. However, if alimony is intended to finance the obligees general living expenses, inclusion of the alimony as income is appropriate.
(d) Reduced Income or Fluctuating Earnings.
(1) Voluntary Income Reduction. The trier-of-fact shall not downwardly adjust a partys net income if the trier-of-fact finds that:
(i) the partys income reduction resulted from the party willfully attempting to favorably affect the partys basic support obligation; or
(ii) the party voluntarily assumed a lower paying job, quit a job, left employment, changed occupations, changed employment status to pursue an education, or employment is terminated due to willful misconduct.
(2) Involuntary Income Reduction. Incarceration. Earnings Fluctuations.
(i) Involuntary Income Reduction. The trier-of-fact shall adjust a partys monthly net income for substantial continuing involuntary decreases in income due to an employment situation over which the party has no control, including, but not limited to, illness, lay-off, termination, or job elimination.
(ii) Incarceration.
(A) Except as set forth in subdivision (d)(2)(ii)(B), the trier-of-fact shall:
(I) consider an incarcerated partys income reduction as an involuntary income reduction as set forth in subdivision (d)(2)(i); and
(II) adjust the incarcerated partys monthly net income accordingly.
(B) Exception.
(I) A partys incarceration shall not constitute an involuntary income reduction when the incarceration is due to support enforcement purposes or a criminal offense in which the partys dependent child or the obligee was the victim; and
(II) The trier-of-fact makes a written finding that downwardly adjusting the incarcerated partys monthly net income would be unjust or inappropriate and, in a child support action, takes into consideration the childs best interest.
(iii) Earnings Fluctuations. The trier-of-fact shall not adjust a partys monthly net income due to normal or temporary earnings fluctuations.
(3) Seasonal Employees. Generally, the trier-of-fact shall base a seasonal employees monthly net income on a yearly average.
(4) Earning Capacity.
(i) When a party willfully fails to obtain or maintain appropriate employment, the trier-of-fact may impute to the party an income equal to the partys earning capacity.
(A) Earning Capacity Limitation. The trier-of-fact:
(I) shall not impute to the party an earning capacity that exceeds the amount the party could earn from one full-time position; and
(II) shall determine a reasonable work regimen based upon the partys relevant circumstances, including the jobs available within a particular occupation, working hours and conditions, and whether a party has exerted substantial good faith efforts to find employment.
(B) The trier-of-fact shall base the partys earning capacity on the subdivision (d)(4)(ii) factors.
(C) After assessing a partys earning capacity, the trier-of-fact shall state the reasons for the assessment in writing or on the record.
(D) When the trier-of-fact imputes an earning capacity to a party who would incur childcare expenses if the party were employed, the trier-of-fact shall consider reasonable childcare responsibilities and expenses.
(ii) Factors. In determining a partys earning capacity, the trier-of-fact shall consider the partys:
(A) child care responsibilities and expenses;
(B) assets;
(C) residence;
(D) employment and earnings history;
(E) job skills;
(F) educational attainment;
(G) literacy;
(H) age;
(I) health;
(J) criminal record and other employment barriers;
(K) record of seeking work;
(L) local job market, including the availability of employers who are willing to hire the party;
(M) local community prevailing earnings level; and
(N) other relevant factors.
Official Note
See 45 C.F.R. § 302.56(c)(1)(iii) regarding earning capacity factors.
(e) Net Income Affecting Application of the Support Guidelines.
(1) Low-Income Cases.
(i) Self-Support Reserve (SSR).
(A) The SSR is the minimum monthly net income reserved to the obligor to meet the obligors basic needs.
(B) The SSR amount is $1,063 per month.
(ii) Action for Child Support Only. When the obligors monthly net income and the number of children in the action intersect in the Basic Child Support Schedules shaded area as set forth in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-3, the trier-of-fact shall determine the obligors basic child support obligation utilizing the lesser of the two calculated amounts from the following methodologies.
(A) The initial calculation is determined by using the obligors monthly net income only, the schedule set forth in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-3, and the number of children.
(B) The second calculation is determined by using the parties combined monthly net income and the basic child support formula in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-4(a).
(C) If the obligors monthly net income is at or below the SSR, the trier-of-fact may award support only after consideration of the parties actual financial resources and living expenses.
Example 1: The parties have two children. The obligee has monthly net income of $2,500. The obligor has monthly net income of $1,500, which falls into the shaded area of the schedule for two children. The initial calculation is made using only the obligors monthly net income. The basic child support obligation for two children would be $397. The second calculation uses the parties combined monthly net income. The parties combined monthly net income is $4,000. The basic child support obligation for two children is $1,340. The obligors proportionate share of the parties combined monthly net income is 38% with a basic child support obligation of $509. The obligors basic child support obligation using only the obligors monthly net income is less than the calculated amount using the parties combined monthly net income. As a result, the trier-of-fact should award the lesser amount, and the obligors basic child support obligation is $397.
(iii) Action for Spousal Support/Alimony Pendente Lite Only.
(A) After calculating the spousal support or alimony pendente lite obligation as provided in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-4, the spousal support obligation shall not reduce the obligors monthly net income below the SSR.
(B) If the obligors monthly net income after subtracting the spousal support or alimony pendente lite obligation is less than the SSR, the trier-of-fact shall adjust the spousal support or alimony pendente lite obligation downward by an amount sufficient for the obligor to retain the SSR amount.
Example 2: The obligor has $1,200 monthly net income, and the obligee has $300 monthly net income. The formula in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-4(a)(1)(Part B) would result in a monthly spousal support obligation of $276 (($1,200 x 33% = $396) minus ($300 x 40% = $120) for a total of $276)). Since this amount leaves the obligor with only $924 per month, the trier-of-fact should adjust the support obligation so the obligor retains at least $1,063 per month. Therefore, the spousal support obligation is $137 per month ($1,200 - $1,063).
(iv) Action with Child Support and Spousal Support or Alimony Pendente Lite.
(A) The trier-of-fact shall calculate the spousal support or alimony pendente lite obligation as provided in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-4.
(B) The trier-of-fact shall subtract the calculated spousal support or alimony pendente lite obligation from the obligors monthly net income to determine the obligors adjusted monthly net income.
(C) When the obligors adjusted monthly net income and the number of children in the action intersect in the Basic Child Support Schedules shaded area as set forth in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-3, the trier-of-fact:
(I) shall not award spousal support or alimony pendente lite; and
(II) shall calculate child support as provided in subdivision (e)(1)(ii).
Example 3: Obligor and obligee have monthly net incomes of $2,000 and $165, respectively, and have two children. Calculating spousal support under subdivision (e)(1)(iv)(A) results in a spousal support obligation of $450 ($2,000 x 25% minus $165 x 30%). Obligors adjusted monthly net income ($2,000 minus $450) is $1,550. Obligors adjusted monthly net income of $1,550 with two children is in the shaded area of the Basic Child Support Schedule, and as a result, the trier-of-fact shall not award spousal support. Instead, the trier-of-fact should award child support only as provided in subdivision (e)(1)(ii).
(D) When the obligors monthly net income and the number of children in the action do not intersect in the Basic Child Support Schedules shaded area as set forth in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-3, the trier-of-fact shall calculate child support consistent with Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-4.
(I) The combined spousal support or alimony pendente lite and basic child support obligations shall not reduce the obligors remaining monthly net income below the SSR.
(II) If the obligors monthly net income after subtracting the spousal support or alimony pendente lite and basic child support obligations is less than the SSR, the trier-of-fact shall adjust the support obligation downward by an amount sufficient for the obligor to retain the SSR amount.
(2) High-Income Cases. If the parties combined monthly net income exceeds $30,000, the trier-of-fact shall calculate child support, spousal support, or alimony pendente lite pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-3.1.
Official Note
See Hanrahan v. Bakker, 186 A.3d 958 (Pa. 2018).
(f) Child Tax Credit. In order to maximize the total income available to the parties and children, the trier-of-fact may award, as appropriate, the federal child tax credit to the non-custodial parent, or to either parent in cases of equally shared custody, and require the other party to execute the waiver required by the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 152(e). The trier-of-fact shall consider the tax consequences associated with the federal child tax credit in calculating the partys monthly net income available for support.
Explanatory Comment2010 Subdivision (a) addresses gross income for purposes of calculating the support obligation by reference to the statutory definition at 23 Pa.C.S. § 4322. Subdivision (b) provides for the treatment of public assistance, SSI benefits, Social Security derivative benefits, and foster care payments.
Subdivision (c) sets forth the exclusive list of the deductions that may be taken from gross income in arriving at a partys net income. When the cost of health insurance premiums is treated as an additional expense subject to allocation between the parties under Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-6, it is not deductible from gross income. However, part or all of the cost of health insurance premiums may be deducted from the obligors gross income pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-6(b) in cases in which the obligor is paying the premiums and the obligee has no income or minimal income. Subdivision (c) relates to spousal support or alimony pendente lite awards when there are multiple families. In these cases, a partys monthly net income must be reduced to account for his or her child support obligations, as well as any pre-existing spousal support, alimony pendente lite or alimony obligations being paid to former spouses who are not the subject of the support action.
Subdivision (d) has been amended to clarify the distinction between voluntary and involuntary changes in income and the imputing of earning capacity. Statutory provisions at 23 Pa.C.S. § 4322, as well as case law, are clear that a support obligation is based upon the ability of a party to pay, and that the concept of an earning capacity is intended to reflect a realistic, rather than a theoretical, ability to pay support. Amendments to subdivision (d) are intended to clarify when imposition of an earning capacity is appropriate.
Subdivision (e) has been amended to reflect the updated schedule in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-3 and the increase in the Self-Support Reserve (SSR). The schedule now applies to all cases in which the parties combined monthly net income is $30,000 or less. The upper income limit of the prior schedule was only $20,000. The support amount at each income level of the schedule also has changed, so the examples in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-2 were revised to be consistent with the new support amounts.
The SSR is intended to assure that obligors with low incomes retain sufficient income to meet their basic needs and to maintain the incentive to continue employment. When the obligors monthly net income or earning capacity falls into the shaded area of the schedule, the basic child support obligation can be derived directly from the schedule in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-3. There is no need to use the formula in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-4 to calculate the obligors support obligation because the SSR keeps the amount of the obligation the same regardless of the obligees income. The obligees income may be a relevant factor, however, in determining whether to deviate from the basic guideline obligation pursuant to Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-5 and in considering whether to require the obligor to contribute to any additional expenses under Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-6.
Since the schedule in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-3 sets forth basic child support only, subdivision (e)(1)(ii) is necessary to reflect the operation of the SSR in spousal support and alimony pendente lite cases. It adjusts the basic guideline obligation, which would otherwise be calculated under the formula in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-4, so that the obligors income does not fall below the SSR amount in these cases.
Previously, the SSR required that the obligor retain at least $748 per month. The SSR now requires that the obligor retain income of at least $867 per month, an amount equal to the 2008 federal poverty level for one person. When the obligors monthly net income is less than $867, subdivision (e)(1)(iii) provides that the trier-of-fact must consider the parties actual living expenses before awarding support. The guidelines assume that at this income level the obligor is barely able to meet basic personal needs. In these cases, therefore, entry of a minimal order may be appropriate. In some cases, it may not be appropriate to order support at all.
The schedule at Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-3 sets forth the presumptive amount of basic child support to be awarded. If the circumstances warrant, the trier-of-fact may deviate from that amount under Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-5 and may also consider a partys contribution to additional expenses, which are typically added to the basic amount of support under Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-6. If, for example, the obligor earns only $900 per month but is living with his or her parents, or has remarried and is living with a fully-employed spouse, the trier-of-fact may consider an upward deviation under Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-5(b)(3) or may order the party to contribute to the additional expenses under Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-6. Consistent with the goals of the SSR, however, the trier-of-fact should ensure that the overall support obligation leaves the obligor with sufficient income to meet basic personal needs and to maintain the incentive to continue working so that support can be paid.
Subdivision (e) also has been amended to eliminate the application of Melzer v. Witsberger, 480 A.2d 991 (Pa. 1984), in high-income child support cases. In cases in which the parties combined net monthly income exceeds $30,000, child support will be calculated in accordance with the three-step process in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-3.1(a).
Explanatory Comment2013 The SSR has been increased to $931, the 2012 federal poverty level for one person. Subdivision (e) has been amended to require that when the obligors income falls into the shaded area of the basic child support schedule in Pa.R.C.P. No. 1910.16-3, two calculations must be performed. One calculation uses only the obligors income and the other is a regular calculation using both parties incomes, awarding the lower amount to the obligee. The two-step process is intended to address those cases in which the obligor has minimal income and the obligees income is substantially greater.
Explanatory Comment2015 The rule has been amended to provide that a partys support obligation will be reduced by the childs Social Security derivative benefit amount if that partys retirement or disability created the benefit and the benefit is being paid to the household in which the child primarily resides or the obligee in cases of equally shared custody. In most cases, payment of the benefit to the obligees household will increase the resources available to the child and the parties. The rule is intended to encourage parties to direct that the childs benefits be paid to the obligee.
Explanatory Comment2021 The Self-Support Reserve is determined by the Federal Poverty Guideline for one person converted to a monthly amountcurrently $1,063for the year the Basic Child Support Schedule was derived.
Subdivision (e)(1) addresses low-income cases and has been completely rewritten and identifies the current monthly Self-Support Reserve (SSR) amount as $1,063. The SSR is the amount of the obligors monthly net income that is reserved to meet the obligors basic needs. Subdivisions (e)(1)(ii)(iv) adjust the methodology for calculating support when the obligors monthly net income is at or near the SSR amount.
Source The provisions of this Rule 1910.16-2 adopted September 29, 1989, effective September 30, 1989, 19 Pa.B. 4151; rescinded and replaced January 27, 1993, effective immediately, 23 Pa.B. 701; amended December 7, 1998, effective April 1, 1999, 28 Pa.B. 6162; amended October 27, 2000, effective immediately, 30 Pa.B. 5837; amended October 30, 2001, effective immediately, 31 Pa.B. 6273; amended November 9, 2004, effective immediately, 34 Pa.B. 6315; amended September 27, 2005, effective four months from date of this order, 35 Pa.B. 5643; amended January 5, 2010, effective immediately, 40 Pa.B. 413; amended January 12, 2010, effective May 12, 2010, 40 Pa.B. 586; amended August 26, 2011, effective September 30, 2011, 41 Pa.B. 4849; amended November 5, 2012, effective December 5, 2012, 42 Pa.B. 7091; amended April 9, 2013, effective August 9, 2013, 43 Pa.B. 2272; amended April 29, 2015, effective July 1, 2015, 45 Pa.B. 2352; amended February 10, 2017, effective May 1, 2017, 47 Pa.B. 1123; amended February 9, 2018, effective April 1, 2018, 48 Pa.B. 1093; amended December 28, 2018, effective January 1, 2019, 49 Pa.B. 170; amended August 17, 2021, effective January 1, 2022, 51 Pa.B. 5539. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (395610) to (395617).
No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.
This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.