In California, child support guidelines have been established to create a fair method of calculating support orders. They take into account many factors to determine what a fair amount for the noncustodial parent is to pay the custodial parent. In previous years, the child support guidelines stated that orders involving low-income individuals would be adjusted annually for cost-of-living increases. As of January 1, 2021, however, California Senate Bill No. 469 has made this no longer the case.
SB 469 changed the net disposable income threshold involved in a child support calculation for a low-income individual from $1,500 to $1,000 per month. It also altered the law so that the threshold is no longer requested to be adjusted annually for cost-of-living increases. This means that if you qualify as low income for child support purposes, a court order made after January 1, 2021, will not be automatically altered annually for inflation. Instead, it will be up to you to request an adjustment if your cost of living has increased substantially because of inflation.