https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-the-amount-of-child-support-based-off-of-for-military <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I am recently divorced, I have 1 daughter who I pay child support for and the mother is also Army as well. I feel like I am getting screwed with the amount I am paying a month for child support ($660) as an E-4 that is taking a toll on my finances, I&#39;ve seen the regulation for family support and I can&#39;t quite make sense of it all. Can someone break it down for me and tell me if my whole check (base pay, bas, bah) is to be figured into child support or is it just my base pay? Tue, 22 Sep 2015 13:00:49 -0400 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-the-amount-of-child-support-based-off-of-for-military <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I am recently divorced, I have 1 daughter who I pay child support for and the mother is also Army as well. I feel like I am getting screwed with the amount I am paying a month for child support ($660) as an E-4 that is taking a toll on my finances, I&#39;ve seen the regulation for family support and I can&#39;t quite make sense of it all. Can someone break it down for me and tell me if my whole check (base pay, bas, bah) is to be figured into child support or is it just my base pay? SPC Private RallyPoint Member Tue, 22 Sep 2015 13:00:49 -0400 2015-09-22T13:00:49-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-the-amount-of-child-support-based-off-of-for-military?n=984982&urlhash=984982 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The amount you pay for child support is dictated by the judicial decision, largely dependent on the State you get divorced in. The amount the Army will pay for your child support is the difference between BAH without dependents and BAH-diff. <br /><br />It's not very much. MAJ Private RallyPoint Member Tue, 22 Sep 2015 15:07:10 -0400 2015-09-22T15:07:10-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-the-amount-of-child-support-based-off-of-for-military?n=984991&urlhash=984991 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Harsh words to feel like you are getting screwed for providing support to your own blood - your daughter....If you are court ordered to pay that amount, I suggest you make an appointment with your local ACS for some financial readiness counseling, the number is [login to see] . While I do understand you are probably frustrated and might feel like mom and daughter could be living better than you, but would you want your daughter living in a bad environment. If you are not court ordered, you can make an inquiry to your local IG [login to see] ) and they can assist you with your question locally. CSM Michael J. Uhlig Tue, 22 Sep 2015 15:09:26 -0400 2015-09-22T15:09:26-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-the-amount-of-child-support-based-off-of-for-military?n=985470&urlhash=985470 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>SPC Crain,<br />I had to go through this process also. Your amount, if you go through the court system (which I did) it is based off of your monthly GROSS income. If you also went through the court system they SHOULD have broke it down to you as to how much YOU pay in child support and how much SHE pays. This amount is based off of many factors! I am an E5 in the Navy and pay over 900 for 1 child where my ex is an E4 and he is only paying 460.<br />Please do not feel as though you are being SCREWED. What you need to do is sleep on a friends couch, help pay groceries and utilities there, and pay your child support!!!! Your focus needs to be on making sure that you are still part of your child's life, she knows that you love her, and keep good communication between you and the mother!!!! PO2 Private RallyPoint Member Tue, 22 Sep 2015 17:42:08 -0400 2015-09-22T17:42:08-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-the-amount-of-child-support-based-off-of-for-military?n=985529&urlhash=985529 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I used to enforce child support in PA so I don't know if it is exactly the same in your state but it is likely pretty close.<br /><br />Your total income including BAS &amp; BAH (because you use that to pay for food &amp; housing, something a child needs) will be added to her income. This is the total family income on one axis of the chart. The number of children is the other axis of the chart. You follow these numbers to where they meet on the chart and that is the total amount of support to be provided to the child or children. Let's say that number is $660 just for sake of having a number to work with.<br /><br />Now you calculate what percentage of the total income belongs to the non-custodial parent. Let's say you both earn exactly the same amount so your percentage is 50%. You would pay 50% of $660 or $330. Often, the incomes are not equal and a rather common scenario is that the custodial parent is employed as a full-time mom and earns $0 income. That makes your percentage of the income 100% so you would pay $660.<br /><br />It's just simple math to calculate support that is in a table that is part of a state law and should be able to be found online. There isn't much to argue. It is what it is. There are some adjustments that can be made for split custody or excessive visitation and this is where you will need legal representation if any of those apply to you. The one bit of advice I can give is that a good relationship with the mother will get you further than and lawyer ever will. A custodial parent can agree to take less than the calculated amount and if you feel generous you can agree to pay more. When there is no agreement the chart is used.<br /><br />The philosophy is that the child is entitled to the same standard of living that would exist if the parents were together in the some household. You may find that this somewhat decreases your standard of living if you don't have custody. MAJ Private RallyPoint Member Tue, 22 Sep 2015 18:04:08 -0400 2015-09-22T18:04:08-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-the-amount-of-child-support-based-off-of-for-military?n=3410126&urlhash=3410126 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Wait, you’re both in the Army? So your ex can supply housing and a good amount of pay towards your daughter to begin with? Why are you paying child support? Wouldn’t it be better off that you keep the money to spend on your daughter through your own terms when she comes to visit? I hate the child support system for this very reason... Best of luck brother. SPC Private RallyPoint Member Sat, 03 Mar 2018 04:26:55 -0500 2018-03-03T04:26:55-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-the-amount-of-child-support-based-off-of-for-military?n=3713237&urlhash=3713237 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Everyone has an opinion. Feeling frustrated is normal, just remember those who speak negatively to you about this probably haven&#39;t experienced it themselves (to really different living it), and things could always be worse MAJ Private RallyPoint Member Fri, 15 Jun 2018 07:52:21 -0400 2018-06-15T07:52:21-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/what-is-the-amount-of-child-support-based-off-of-for-military?n=4913798&urlhash=4913798 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Good questions! From my work with the Marine Corps as a therapist, I dealt with a lot of custody and some support issues. If your wife has physical custody of your child, you are not authorized BAH. The amount of support should only be based upon your Base pay. The amount of $660 a month is enormously high! You might want to get a civilian lawyer to assist you with custody, visitation, and child support issues. You should have an attorney handling the divorce, add the custody, visitation, and child support issues included in the divorce decree. A court order will eliminate the outrageous amount of $660 for ONE child. Good luck and I hope things are resolved in your favor. SPC Nancy Greene Wed, 14 Aug 2019 01:33:51 -0400 2019-08-14T01:33:51-04:00 2015-09-22T13:00:49-04:00