Do Illinois Parents Pay Child Support for a Disabled Adult Child?

 Posted on August 20, 2021 in Family Law

IL divorce lawyerParenting is always challenging, but parenting a disabled child can entail substantially more caregiving requirements. Generally, both parents are responsible for a child’s financial needs until the child reaches the age of 18. However, when an adult child has a disability, the child may not be able to work or support themselves. In this case, parents often are financially responsible for their child well into adulthood. For divorced parents, this means that child support payments may not necessarily stop once the child turns 18. If the disability is an “impairment that substantially limits major life activity,” Illinois may legally require parents to support a mentally or physically disabled child throughout their lives.

What Determines Disabled Adult Child Support Payments?

Not all adults with a qualifying disability will be awarded child support after reaching 18. Illinois courts will consider several factors when determining whether a parent must pay child support for an adult child, including:

  • Whether the adult child’s disability began before turning 18 (this is a requirement)
  • Whether the child can support himself or has other financial resources, such as an inheritance, at his disposal
  • Whether the child is eligible for government benefits, such as Social Security disability benefits, home care programs, or other public or private aid
  • Whether the parent’s overall financial circumstances allow them to pay for the continued care of an adult child without
  • Whether the parent’s ability to provide for their own future, including retirement, would be impacted by continuing support payments

Who Do the Support Payments Go To?

Although payments may be required to be sent from one parent to the other, especially if one parent is a caretaker for the child, adult child support payments may also be made to a trust that has been created for the child’s benefit. This kind of trust is known as a Special Needs Trust.

One person - typically a parent - will be established as the trustee of the Special Needs Trust, and the disabled person will be the beneficiary. The trustee will open a bank account for the trust, and the funds in the trust must only be used to benefit the disabled person. Because Social Security disability benefits can be stopped for disabled adults with over $2,000 in assets, any inheritance, gift, or other donation made to the trust will not interrupt the SS benefits since the assets are given to the trust, rather than to the disabled individual.

Work with a Hinsdale, IL Child Support Attorney

Legal matters regarding support for an adult disabled child can be complex and confusing. The experienced DuPage County child support attorneys with Law Office of Martoccio & Martoccio have extensive experience with unusual or complex child support cases and will work with you to obtain a favorable outcome. Call us today to schedule a confidential consultation at 630-920-8855.

 

Sources:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=075000050K513.5

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+V&ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=6200000&SeqEnd=8675000

https://www2.illinois.gov/hfs/MedicalClients/HCBS/Pages/DD.aspx 



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