Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) for Child Support Orders

Do you get or pay child support? Your child support amount can be changed when the cost of living goes up. This is called a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). 

What is a cost of living adjustment (COLA)?

A COLA increases your child support amount when basic living costs (like food, housing, and other needs) go up. You don't need to show that your personal situation has changed to get a COLA.

Can my child support order get a COLA?

Your order can get a COLA if:

• Your child support is paid through the Support Collection Unit (SCU)
• The person paying support is not on public assistance or SSI
• SCU has the current address of the person paying support
• Your order is at least two years old

All types of child support orders can get a COLA, including:

• Small orders ($25 or $50 per month)
• Orders based on a percentage of income

Who can ask for a COLA?

Either parent can ask for a COLA:

• The parent who gets child support
• The parent who pays child support

How does SCU decide if there should be a COLA?

SCU looks at how much living costs have gone up in your area. They use something called the Consumer Price Index for Urban Areas (CPI-U). Living costs must have gone up by at least 10% since your last order for you to get a COLA.

How does SCU calculate the new amount?

They follow these steps:

1. Add up how much living costs have gone up each year
2. Multiply that number by your current child support amount
3. Add that to your current amount

For example: Let's say you have a $10,000 per year child support order from 1998.

1. Living costs went up by 10% total from 1998-2001
2. 10% of $10,000 = $1,000
3. $10,000 + $1,000 = $11,000 per year (your new amount)

What happens next?

1. SCU will send both parents a notice
2. Either parent can ask for a review
3. SCU will calculate the new amount
4. SCU will send the new order to both parents and the court
5. You don't need to give SCU any financial information

When does the new amount start? 

The new amount starts on whichever date comes later:

• 60 days after SCU issues the new order, or
• 24 months after your current order started

What if I disagree with the new amount?

If you disagree, you can:

1. File a written objection with the court within 35 days
2. Send a copy to the other parent and SCU
3. The court will schedule a hearing

Important: The new amount won't start if you file an objection.

What will the judge decide? 

The judge has two choices:

1. Make a new order based on the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA)
2. Keep the current amount if the CSSA shows no change is needed

Remember:

• Your order must be at least two years old to get a COLA
• You don't need to prove your situation changed
• Either parent can ask for a COLA
• You can object to the new amount within 35 days