WPCO +KhלKb՜;=N0wXbe(Ϩ f_`KFO<#Ibë^yf Fg `2>;3r]rowX*~RmsHa^6W=& -y"<=)楪)cMsA]I6 ?J/`N+Ahka^^VӘX?{9m%CKO%U9.JVo_%AJuSwg}M?r;ƈIAHQ$\VyUQv(mC8ho|O|#ማ/drp\G_.VcecS4z3# ^ % 0 wc 4g U%N{ z C $ m&UB=E  0N! 0# 0EC 0xE 0 0 CeeeK. 0Uy&///U 07 0 0 0 0W! 0 " 0" 0^#b# 0$ 0$ 0% 0P& 0& 0' 0E( 0( 0u) 0* 0* 0+ 0B, 0, 0- 0.. 0. 0X/ 0/ 00 0R1 0>2 0N2 0F3 0(4 0 5 05 06 07 0j8 02<9 0n9 0:j: 0Y: 0_: 0 \; 0 G< 0Q= 0> B@ B*@ 0 A D3A D-A 0K$B D/oB ASBB 0C 0D[D AD 0JE D/PG 0G 06MH 0H 0:I 0^I 0<#J 1e_J 0NJU6KU>HKU*KKKKK 1uK 72%L 0cWLLLLLLLLLLfN\\IB01S01\CLERK1NAS,,,,0hV/ (`$.8dd8    o=/ocsDOCSj("  Z6Times New Roman Regular C:\PROGRA~1\COREL\WORDPE~1\TEMPLATE\CUSTOM~1\REVISE~1.WPTC:\Program Files\Corel\WordPerfect Office 2000\Template\Custom WP Templates\revised standard opinion.wpt3|xU\  `*Times New RomanTTLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5H! 4Body TextBody Text            L! 6Block TextBlock Text            `:footnote reffootnote reference        V :footnote texfootnote text  W \  `*Times New RomanTTW        XXXW \  `*Times New RomanTTW  H0% 4heading 1heading 1&            '    ($     R$      3  ni  _42U.S.C.A.423(d)(1)(A)(West2003);see20C.F.R.404.1505(a)(2003). R$      4  ni  _42U.S.C.A.423(d)(2)(A). A R$      1  ni  _ChildSupportServicesofDavidsonCountyisaprivateentitythatcontractedwiththeTennesseeDepartment  ofHumanServicestoprovideTitleIVDchildsupportcollectionservicesinDavidsonCounty.Priorto1992,the t DistrictAttorneyGeneralfortheTwentiethJudicialDistricthadperformedtheseservices.Stateexrel.Buchananv. 8 Buchanan,No.M199800962COAR3CV,2002WL75932,at*2n.3(Tenn.Ct.App.Jan.22,2002)(NoTenn.R. L App.P.11applicationfiled).P  P  P  *+ (_2623  .. R$      5  ni  _20C.F.R.404.1581,404.1584(b)(2003). R$      6  ni  _20C.F.R.404.1574(2003). TiffayneLangschmidt RegsServsC.F.R.SchweikerU.S.C.C.A.N. P.J. Tekg]rosss]uch I]tRaybonCheathamMcElrath R$      8  ni  _Tenn.CodeAnn.341102(a)(2001);Tenn.CodeAnn.365101(a)(1)(Supp.2002).*G+G (_25   /%` ` hp x /23  ../%` ` hp x /   *8+8 (_24  ," hp x ,23  ..," hp x ,  *5+5 (_23 ` ) hp x )23  ..) hp x ) ` *2+2 (_22  &hhp x &23  ..&hhp x &  */+/ (_21  #p x #23  ..#p x #  *,+, (_20 h  p x 23  .. p x h *)+) (_19  pp x 23  ..pp x   *&+& (_18   x 23  .. x   - -*AA (_17  5+ ` hp x 523  Ԁ5+ ` hp x 5  *GG (_16   /%` ` hp x /23  Ԁ/%` ` hp x /   *88 (_15  ," hp x ,23  Ԁ," hp x ,  *55 (_14 ` ) hp x )23  Ԁ) hp x ) ` *22 (_13  &hhp x &23  Ԁ&hhp x &  *// (_12  #p x #23  Ԁ#p x #  *,, (_11 h  p x 23  Ԁ p x h *)) (_10  pp x 23  Ԁpp x   (&& &_9   x 23  Ԁ x   (AA &_8  5+ ` hp x 523  5+ ` hp x 5  (GG &_7   /%` ` hp x /23  /%` ` hp x /   (88 &_6  ," hp x ,23  ," hp x ,  (55 &_5 ` ) hp x )23  ) hp x ) ` (22 &_4  &hhp x &23  &hhp x &  (// &_3  #p x #23  #p x #  (,, &_2 h  p x 23   p x h ()) &_1  pp x 23  pp x   &&& $_   x 23   x   0AA.Normal  5+ ` hp x 55+ ` hp x 5  <AA:Definition T  5+ ` hp x 55+ ` hp x 5  <AA:Definition L , 5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 586Definition(hh&H1  5+ ` hp x 5      5+ ` hp x 5  (]]&H2  5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 5  (]]&H3  5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 5  (]]&H4  5+ ` hp x 5 XXX 5+ ` hp x 5  (]]&H5  5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 5  (]]&H6  5+ ` hp x 5  5+ ` hp x 5  2DD0Address  5+ ` hp x 55+ ` hp x 5  8MM6Blockquote , , 5+ ` hp x 5   5+ ` hp x 5,*CITE,dl*CODEKl<6X9`(Courier NewKSm\  `&Times New RomanS42Emphasis64Hyperlink    <:FollowedHype    (|G2$ !.8dd8         0  ni4go2Keyboard Kl<6X9`(Courier NewKSm\  `&Times New RomanS <:Preformatted  /%  ,Kk %#/Kl<6X9`(Courier NewKSm\  `&Times New RomanS/%  ,Kk %#/  <:zBottom of 7\(X7    5+ ` hp x 5?n%2A`Arial?  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R$      7  ni  _42U.S.C.A.401(b)(West2003). !.8dd8     __TRX3'Avery 3259 Embossed NoteX3' Letter3'Avery 5160 Address Note]\TRX3'3'LetterT  8XXdd8  @ 0INTHECOURTOFAPPEALSOFTENNESSEE  @kk$ATNASHVILLE#0p#Ԉ &   March19,2002Session L XX #XXW#STATEOFTENNESSEE,exrelTIFFAYNEN.RAYBON,etal.v. J ANTHONYMcELRATHXX   ^ @@ AppealfromtheJuvenileCourtforDavidsonCounty  ^ @@Nos.961926935,961926937&991951570BettyAdamsGreen,Judge  J @@*AV) ` dE<` A   @@TTNo.M200101295COAR3JVFiledOctober22,2003 #XX#XX    AV) ` dE<` A      Thisappealinvolvesanunemployedanddisabledfathersobligationtosupportthreeofhisnon x maritalchildren.ThemothersofthethreechildrenfiledseparatepetitionsintheDavidsonCounty d JuvenileCourtseekingtocompelthefathertopaychildsupport.Thefatherrespondedthathisonly P sourceofincome!thebenefitshereceivesasadisabledadultchildofadeceasedworkerunder42 < U.S.C.A.402(d)(West2003)!shouldnotbetreatedasincomeforthepurposeoftheChild (x SupportGuidelines.Boththerefereeandthejuvenilecourtjudgedisagreedanddirectedthefather d topaychildsupport.Thefatherappealed.Wehavedeterminedthatthejuvenilecourterredby P treatingthefathersSection402(d)benefitsasincomeforthepurposeofcalculatingchildsupport. < #XX#XXj Tenn.R.App.P.3AppealasofRight;JudgmentoftheJuvenileCourtReversed     #Xa #XX.WilliamC.Koch,Jr.,J.,deliveredtheopinionofthecourt,inwhichBenH.Cantrell,P.J.,M.S.,  andBuddyD.Perry,Sp.J.,joined.  ClarkLeeShaw,Nashville,Tennessee,andLauraTek,Madison,Tennessee,fortheappellant, `!  AnthonyMcElrath. L"! PaulG.Summers,AttorneyGeneralandReporter,andStuartF.WilsonPatton,SeniorCounsel,for $$t# theappellee,StateofTennessee,onbehalfofTiffayneN.RaybonandLeahCheatham. %` $   OPINION #XX- #XX &8"& #XX #XX  @)I.  ($( #XX#XX  AnthonyMcElrathisthirtyyearsold.Hehasbeenlegallyblindsincebirthandisborderline *%* mentallyretarded.Thesedisabilitiesrenderhimunemployableand,asfarasthisrecordshows,he +&+ hasneverheldapayingjob.Hisonlysourceofincomeisthe$630permonthinSocialSecurity p,', Benefitshereceivesunder42U.S.C.A.402(d)(West2003)asadisabledadultchildofadisabled, \-(-V _andnowdeceased,parent.Heresideswithhismotherinanapartmentinasubsidizedhousing  projectinNashville.    Mr.McElrathisthefatheroffivenonmaritalchildrenbythreewomen.Twoofthese t women!LeahR.CheathamandTiffayneN.Raybon!areseekingchildsupportfromMr.McElrath ` inthiscase.InFebruaryof1993Ms.CheathamgavebirthtoMr.McElrathsfirstchild.InFebruary L  of1996,Ms.RaybongavebirthtoMr.McElrathssecondandthirdchildren,whoaretwins.Mr. 8  McElrathsfourthandfifthchildrenwereborntoMr.McElrathscurrentgirlfriend.Hehasnever $ t supportedanyofhischildrenonaregularbasis,althoughheclaimsthatheprovideshiscurrent  ` girlfriendmoneywhenheisable.  L    InNovember1996,afterMr.McElrathacknowledgedthathewasthefatherofMs.Raybons $  twins,ChildSupportServicesofDavidsonCounty( ChildSupportServices)   1      ׀filedachildsupport   petitiononbehalfofMs.RaybonintheDavidsonCountyJuvenileCourt.ArefereeorderedMr.   McElrathtopayMs.Raybon$185permonthinchildsupportandawardedMs.Raybona$3,587   judgmentforthearrearage.Mr.McElrathhasnevermadeanyofthechildsupportpayments   pursuanttothisorder.Eventually,hepetitionedthejuvenilecourttodiscontinuehischildsupport p obligationbecausehisdisabilityrenderedhimunabletosupporthischildren. \   InNovember1999,ChildSupportServicesfiledapetitiononbehalfofMs.Cheathamto 4 havetheparentageofherchildestablishedandtohaveMr.McElrathorderedtopaychildsupport.  p CourtorderedgenetictestingconfirmedthatMr.McElrathisthebiologicalfatherofMs.  \ Cheathamschild.Mr.McElrathmovedtodismissthepetition,againassertingthathisdisability H preventedhimfrompayingchildsupport. 4   ThejuvenilecourtconsolidatedthepetitionsfiledonbehalfofMs.RaybonandMs.   Cheatham.Followingahearing,arefereedeterminedthatMr.McElrathsbenefitsunder402(d)  shouldbetreatedasgrossincomeundertheChildSupportGuidelinesandorderedhimtopaychild  supporttoMs.Raybonof$180.90permonthforthetwinsandtoMs.Cheathamof$80.00per  month.Thejuvenilecourtaffirmedtherefereesdecision,andMr.McElrathhasappealedtothis l court. X  @) II.  0"  @hh TheStandardofReview  #l!   Thisappealpresentsasingleissue!whetherthebenefitsMr.McElrathreceivesunder $D # Section402(d)asthedisabledadultchildofadeceasedparentmaybeconsideredgrossincomefor %0!$ thepurposeofcalculatinghischildsupportobligations.Theissuepresentsapurequestionoflaw, &"% and,accordingly,wewillreviewthejuvenilecourtsdecisionwithoutapplyingTenn.R.App.P.  13(d)spresumptionofcorrectness.Langschmidtv.Langschmidt,81S.W.3d741,74445(Tenn.  2002);Willisv.Willis,62S.W.3d735,73738(Tenn.Ct.App.2001).  @^^( III.  L  @  Mr.McElraths42U.S.C.A.402(d)Benefits  8    Fromtheirinception,theChildSupportGuidelinespromulgatedbytheTennessee  ` DepartmentofHumanServiceshavecontainedanexpansivedefinitionofgrossincome.Tenn.  L  Comp.R.&Regs.r.124024.03(3)(a)(1997)defines [g]rossincomeas allincomefromany  8  source...whetherearnedorunearned,andincludesbutisnotlimitedto,thefollowing:...benefits $  receivedfromtheSocialSecurityAdministration,i.e.TitleIISocialSecuritybenefits.However,   in1990,theTennesseeSupremeCourtheldthatSupplementalSecurityIncome( SSI)benefits   shouldnotbetreatedas grossincomeundertheguidelines,notwithstandingtheexplicitinclusion   of benefitsreceivedfromtheSocialSecurityAdministrationinthedefinitionof [g]rossincome.   TheCourtreasonedthatSSIbenefitsshouldnotbeincluded,becausetheyarenotaformof p remunerationforprioremploymentbutratherarepartofa safetynetprogramdesignedtoprotect \ peoplewithverylowincomeswhoareunemployedandunemployable.TennesseeDeptofHuman H Servs.exrel.Youngv.Young,802S.W.2d594,597(Tenn.1990). 4   FollowingtheTennesseeSupremeCourtsdecisioninYoung,theDepartmentofHuman  \ Servicesamendedtheguidelinestoexplicitlyexcludefromthedefinitionof [g]rossincomeany H  benefitsreceivedfrommeanstestedpublicassistanceprogramsotherwiseexemptbyfederallaw 4 orregulations.Tenn.Comp.R.&Regs.r.124024.03(3)(c)(1997).Whiletheamended   guidelinedidnotdefinewhata meanstestedpublicassistanceprogramwas,itidentifiedfood   stamps,aidtofamilieswithdependentchildren,andSSIbenefitsasexamples.Accordingly,itfalls  toustodeterminewhetherbenefitsunderSection402(d)!disabledadultchildrenofadeceased  parent!arethesortofpublicassistancethatshouldbeexcludedwhendeterminingaparents gross  income. l @) A.  D! @  ApplicationofTenn.Comp.R.&Regs.r.124024.03(3)  0"    Apublicassistanceprogramis meanstestedifeligibilityforthebenefitoritsamountis $X" determinedonthebasisoftheincomeorresourcesoftherecipient.Riggsv.Riggs,622N.W.2d861, $D # 86667(Neb.2001);Forbesv.Forbes,610N.E.2d885,88788(Ind.Ct.App.1993).Wehave %0!$ determinedthatthebenefitspaidtodisabledadultchildrenofdeceaseddisabledworkersunder &"% Section402(d)aremeanstestedpublicassistancebenefitsforthepurposeofTenn.Comp.R.& '#& Regs.r.124024.03(3).Accordingly,theyshouldnotbeincludedinthecalculationof gross (#' incomeundertheChildSupportGuidelines. )$(   |*%)   PersonswhoareolderthaneighteenyearsofageareentitledtoreceiveSection402(d)   benefitsinonlytwocircumstances.Assumingthattheymeettheotherapplicablerequirements,an  individualwhoisovertheageofeighteenmayreceiveSocialSecuritybenefits:(1)untiltheir  nineteenthbirthdayiftheyarefulltimeelementaryorsecondaryschoolstudents,or(2)iftheyare t disabled.v   2      #XXݚ#XXԀItisthelatterprovisionthatisatissuehere. `   InSection402(d),theterm disabilitymeansthe inabilitytoengageinsubstantialgainful 8  activitybyreasonofanymedicallydeterminablephysicalormentalimpairment...whichhaslasted $ t orcanbeexpectedtolastforacontinuousperiodofnotlessthan12months.   3      ׀Apersonshallbe  ` deemedtobedisabledonlyif  L  8  8`   his[orher]physicalormentalimpairmentorimpairmentsareofsuch $  severitythathe[orshe]isnotonlyunabletodohis[orher]previous   workbutcannot,consideringhis[orher]age,education,andwork   experience,engageinanyotherkindofsubstantialgainfulwork   whichexistsinthenationaleconomy.h   4      ׀ ` x` x Otherwisequalifiedpersonswhoare statutorilyblindareentitledtoreceivebenefitsunderSection \ 402(d)iftheyarenotengagedin substantialgainfulactivity.    5      ׀Whetherapersonisengagedin H  substantialgainfulactivitydependsuponhisorheraveragemonthlyearnings.!   6       4   TheprovisionofdisabledadultchildbenefitsunderSection402(d)qualifiesasameans  \ testedpublicassistanceprogramforthepurposeofTenn.Comp.R.&Regs.r.124024.03(3)(c) H becausetheeligibilitytoreceivethesebenefitsisbasedontheamountoftherecipientsearnings. 4 Mr.McElrathiseligibletoreceivethesebenefitsaslongashemeetsalltheeligibilityrequirements,   includingtherequirementthathisaveragemonthlyincomenotexceed$1,170.Itisundisputedthat   Mr.McElrathcurrentlyqualifiesforbenefitsunderSection402(d).Itisequallyundisputedthathis  disabilitiesrenderhimbothunemployedandunemployableandthatthroughouthislifehehasnever  beenabletoobtainapayingjob.Accordingly,the$630monthlybenefitMr.McElrathreceives  underSection402(d)isexemptunderTenn.Comp.R.&Regs.r.124024.03(3)(c)andshouldnot l havebeenincludedincalculatinghis grossincomeforthepurposeofdeterminingtheexistence X  andextentofhismonetarychildsupportobligation. D!  0"  @) B.   @  FederalExemptionfromGarnishment     TheTennesseeSupremeCourtsdecisiontoexcludeSocialSecuritybenefitsincalculating t aparentsgrossincomeforpurposesofchildsupportrested,inpart,onitsinterpretationand ` understandingofpurposesbehind42U.S.C.A.407(a)(West2003).UnderSection407(a),SSI L  benefitsarenotsubjecttogarnishment.TheCourtnotedthatwhilethefederalantigarnishment 8  statutecontainsexemptionsforcertaintypesofbenefits,thesearelimitedto moneys...the $ t entitlementtowhichisbasedonremunerationforemployment.42U.S.C.A.659(a)(West2003).  ` TheCourtheldthatSSIbenefitswerebasedentirelyonneedandwere,therefore,notconsideredto  L  bebenefitsbasedonremunerationforemploymentunderfederallaw.TennesseeDeptofHuman  8  Servs.exrel.Youngv.Young,802S.W.2dat597.   7       $    ThelimitationoftheSection659(a)exemptiontobenefitsbasedon remunerationfor   employmentappliesonlytobenefitsbasedontherecipientsemployment.Itcannotbeextended   tobenefitsbasedonemploymentoftherecipientsparentsorotherfamilymembers.Thus,thefact   thatMr.McElrathsfatherwasemployedbeforehisdeathisnotrelevant.ItisundisputedthatMr. p McElrathhasneverbeenemployedand,therefore,thatnoemployerhascontributedtotheFederal \ DisabilityInsuranceTrustFundonhisbehalf.Accordingly,hisSection402(b)benefitsarenot H basedon remunerationforemploymentunderfederallaw. 4   TheSSIbenefitsandSection402(d)benefitsatissueherearesomewhatsimilarinpurpose.  \ SSIbenefitsareintendedtoprovideaguaranteedminimumincometopersonswhocannotwork H becauseofage,blindness,ordisability.Schweikerv.Wilson,450U.S.221,223,110S.Ct.1074, 4 1077(1981).Theyare,intheTennesseeSupremeCourtswords,partofa safetynetprogram   intendedfortherecipientalone.TennesseeDeptofHumanServs.exrel.Youngv.Young,802   S.W.2dat597,599.    Similarly,Section402(d)assistanceisintendedtoprovideaminimumlevelofsupportto  disabledadultswhocannotworkandwhoseparentsareunabletoprovideforthemasaresultofage, l disability,ordeath.In1956,whenbenefitswerefirstextendedtodisabledadultchildren,theSenate X  FinanceCommitteeexplainedthatthepurposeofthelegislationwastoprovidecoveragetochildren D! whohadbecome permanentlyandtotallydisabledbeforereachingageeighteenbecause [s]uch 0"  childrenareasdependentontheirparentsafterattainingage18asbeforeandthereforethe #l! committeebelievesitisimportanttofillthisgapintheprogrambyprovidingbenefitsfordisabled $X" children.S.Rep.No.842133(1956),reprintedin1956U.S.C.C.A.N.3877,3878.In1972, $D # Congressraisedtheagelimitforeligibilitytoincludeindividualswhobecamedisabledbeforetheir %0!$ 22ndbirthday.TheHouseWaysandMeansCommitteeobservedthat: &"% 8  8`    Peopleunderage22whobecomesoseriouslydisabledthat (#' theyarepreventedfromworkinggenerallydependontheirparentsfor )$( theirfuturesupport....[I]tisappropriateanddesirabletoprovide  socialsecuritybenefitsforthesedisabledpeopleaftertheinsured  parentdies,becomesdisabled,orretires.` x` x H.Rep.No.92231(1971),reprintedin1972U.S.C.C.A.N.4989,5037. ` @dd) IV.  8    Parentshavea deeplyrootedmoralresponsibilitytosupporttheirchildren.Boggsv.  ` Boggs,520U.S.833,847,117S.Ct.1754,1764(1997)(quotingRosev.Rose,481U.S.619,632,  L  107S.Ct.2029,2037(1987));Bakerv.Baker,169Tenn.589,592,89S.W.2d763,764(1935).In  8  Tennessee,thismoralresponsibilityisalsoalegallyenforceableobligation,%   8      ׀butonlywhenthe $  parentfromwhomsupportisbeingsoughthasincomefromwhichthissupportcanbepaid.Thus,   basedonthecurrentfederallawandtheChildSupportGuidelinesnowineffect,Mr.McElrathis   notreceivingany incomefromwhichhecanbeorderedtopaychildsupport.Accordingly,the   juvenilecourterredbyorderinghimtopaychildsupporttoMs.RaybonandMs.Cheatham.The   judgmentisreversedandthecaseremandedtothejuvenilecourtwithdirectionstodismissthe p petitionsforchildsupport.WetaxthecostsoftheseappealstoChildSupportServicesofDavidson \ Countyforwhichexecution,ifnecessary,mayissue. H    `     h     _____________________________ H    `     h     WILLIAMC.KOCH,JR.,J.#XX/#