Opinion ID: 883200
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: offset for social security benefits

Text: Dale argues that the District Court should have credited the lump sum payment Sara received from the Social Security Administration against his medical costs arrearages. Dale states that he presumed the benefits paid to Sara were replacing any payments required of him. However, the District Court concluded that Dale was responsible for all of Sara's medical costs under the terms of the original decree, and one half of Sara's medical bills under the terms of its January 22, 1991 order. This Court reviews conclusions of law to determine whether the district court's interpretation of the law was correct. Burris v. Burris (1993), 258 Mont. 265, 269, 852 P.2d 616, 619. We conclude that the District Court was correct in concluding that Dale was responsible for accrued medical costs according to the terms of its prior rulings. This Court has determined that Social Security benefits may be treated as a contribution from the disabled obligor parent toward the support of the children. In re Marriage of Durbin (1991), 251 Mont. 51, 58, 823 P.2d 243, 247. However, § 40-4-208(1), MCA, provides a decree may be modified by a court as to maintenance or support only as to installments accruing subsequent to actual notice to the parties of the motion for modification. Accordingly, a court cannot credit a child's receipt of Social Security benefits on behalf of a disabled parent toward that parent's child support obligation until the parent moves to modify the decree. Marriage of Durbin, 823 P.2d at 247. In the instant case, Dale moved to modify his child support and medical care costs obligation on December 5, 1990. The District Court by its order of January 22, 1991, relieved Dale of his obligation to pay child support, and limited his obligation for Sara's health care costs to one-half of such expenditures. Sara received the lump sum award shortly before Dale filed his motion for modification. Therefore, pursuant to § 40-4-208(1), MCA, Dale's child support and medical care costs obligation could only be modified back to December 5, 1990, when Dale gave notice of his motion for modification. In re Marriage of Bolt (1993), 259 Mont. 54, 60, 854 P.2d 322, 325. We hold that the District Court was correct in concluding that Sara's receipt of Social Security benefits did not automatically relieve Dale from his obligation to pay his share of Sara's medical bills that he was responsible for according to the terms of the previous court orders.