Gallagher v. Department of Social Services

The issue presented is whether child support arrearage payments are the property of the mother for the purpose of determining eligibility of aid to the disabled.

The department of social services terminated plaintiff Clotilde Gallagher’s aid to disabled grant *560because she was in possession of personal property in excess of the statutory maximum of $750. The department based its decision on the ground that child support arrearages paid under the uniform reciprocal enforcement of support act to a mother who was receiving aid to the disabled assistance was the property of the mother.

Plaintiff,…