In Ohio, however, those benefits will be counted as actual pay as regards how noncustodial parents’ child support payments are calculated. Though Florida has not ruled on this issue as of yet, it may come up in future cases.

In the year 2006, an Ohio man with two children ended up being the noncustodial parent. As such, the court ordered him to pay a certain amount in child support per month. Yet when the recession came, his salary was cut, so he went back to the court to petition for a lower monthly amount.

The trial court, though, refused to do so, citing his large non-monetary benefit package from his employer. The perks included a cell phone, tickets to university football games, car insurance, and a company car. The total value of the benefits was $16,750 per year. Since the father would not have to buy these things on his own, the court reasoned, he would still have enough income to support his children at the same level as before.

When the man appealed his case to a higher court, the appeals court also upheld the decision to keep his child support payments the same. He then again appealed—this time to the Ohio Supreme Court. The state’s highest court upheld the lower courts’ rulings with only one exception—the football tickets would not count toward his total income.

Florida noncustodial parents should keep an eye out for rulings that may affect them likewise. When discussing compensation with their employer, they may want to keep this ruling in mind when accepting benefits in lieu of monetary compensation.