HB0216 amends Utah’s child support statute governing how courts and administrative agencies determine a parent’s gross income. The bill specifically adds Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to the list of income sources that may be included when calculating gross income for child support purposes. At the same time, it removes SSDI from the list of benefits that may not be counted as income, resolving an internal inconsistency in the current statute and making clear that SSDI is treated differently from means-tested public assistance.
The bill leaves the rest of the child support calculation framework intact, including rules on verification of income, treatment of self-employment income, imputation of income, and credits for certain Social Security benefits paid to a child. It also preserves the existing exclusions for programs such as SSI, Medicaid, SNAP, and other means-tested benefits, while continuing to require courts to make findings before imputing income in contested cases. The bill takes effect May 6, 2026.
Impact
HB0216 directly amends Utah Code Section 81-6-203, which is a core provision used by courts and the Office of Recovery Services to calculate child support obligations. By expressly including SSDI in gross income, the bill can increase the income base used in child support determinations for some parents receiving disability benefits, potentially affecting support amounts, modification requests, and enforcement outcomes. It also clarifies the statutory treatment of disability-related benefits by distinguishing SSDI from need-based public assistance and from SSI.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been received positively and with little opposition. It received a unanimous favorable recommendation in House committee, passed the House 68-0 on third reading, and then received a favorable recommendation in Senate committee by a 5-0 vote. The available voting record suggests broad bipartisan support and no recorded floor or committee dissent.
Contention
The main substantive issue is the treatment of Social Security Disability Insurance in child support calculations. Supporters likely view the change as a clarification that aligns SSDI with other income sources and ensures child support reflects a parent’s actual resources. Any concern would center on whether counting SSDI could burden disabled parents who rely on those benefits for subsistence, especially in cases where disability limits earning capacity. The bill does not appear to have generated recorded controversy in the available materials, and no committee transcript objections are provided.