The NH, Sarah Johnson, died in August 2010. During the 12-month period before Sarah
died, they lived with their spouse Frank and Frank's daughter from a prior marriage,
Judith, along with Frank's other two children. Judith has filed for benefits on Sarah's
record as a stepchild.
During the 12-month support period, Sarah had $30,000 in income. Frank's income was
$24,000. Judith received $4,000 in child support payments from their natural parent
who does not live in the same household. Although Frank and Sarah pooled their incomes,
they used Judith's child support payments exclusively for Judith's own needs such
as clothing and medical care. Therefore, we cannot use the pooled fund method.
Development per RS 01301.070 through RS 01301.080 determined that the value of Judith's room and board for the period was $4,000. Since
Sarah and Frank pooled their incomes, we must compute the proportion of their contributions
to Judith that may be attributed to Sarah. In order to determine this proportion,
compute the proportion that Sarah's income ($30,000) represents with respect to the
total of their income and Frank's income ($54,000). Since Sarah's income represents
56% of the total of their income and Frank's income, assume that Sarah paid that percent
of Judith's room and board. (This rule applies unless the facts indicate otherwise.)
Thus, Sarah contributed $2,240 ($4,000 x 56%) to Judith's room and board.
In computing Sarah's contributions to Judith's other needs such as clothing and medical
expenses (which totaled $5,000), deduct Judith's $4,000 income from their total expenses,
since this money was used only for their expenses. The remainder is $1,000. Apply
the 56 percent calculated above to this $1,000 to determine the amount Sarah contributed
to Judith for these expenses ($560).
The total of all contributions to Judith (from Frank, Sarah, and Judith's other parent)
equaled $9,000. The breakdown is as follows:
Judith's income from their other parent living outside the household:
|
$4,000
|
Frank's and Sarah's contributions to Judith's room and board
|
$4,000
|
Frank's and Sarah's contributions to Judith's other expenses
|
$1,000
|
Total cost of Judith's support
|
$9,000
|
One-half of the cost of Judith's support is $4,500. Sarah's contributions to Judith
($2,240 plus $560) equaled $2,800, which is less than $4,500. Therefore, Judith does
not meet the one-half support requirement.