In Nebraska, we are experiencing changes to our minimum wage.  While the Federal minimum wage has not changed, the state minimum wage in Nebraska is now $10.50 per hour, having begun on January 1, 2023.  Nebraska’s state minimum wage will increase by $1.50 each year until 2026, when the minimum wage will reach $15.00 per hour.  This is a result of a ballot measure voted on by Nebraska voters in 2022.

For a fulltime worker earning minimum wage, an extra $1.50 per hour is an increase of approximately $3,120 per year.  By 2026, minimum wage earners working full time will be earning $12,480 more per year than they earned in 2022. 

Nebraska, like most states, uses a standardized calculation based on income and custody arrangements, among other factors, to determine the amount of child support to order.  When circumstances change after the Court has issued a child support order, you can ask the Court to change the order.  This process is called a modification.  In order to modify an existing child support obligation, Nebraska requires that the change result in a variation of the current child support obligation of 10 percent or more, upward, or downward, but cannot be less than $25.00.  The change must have lasted 3 months and can reasonably be expected to last for an additional 6 months.

It is very possible that the change in minimum wage will result in an upward deviation of more than ten percent, especially by 2026, when the minimum wage is raised to $15.00 per hour. 

If you are receiving a child support payment and either your income or the other parent’s income has changed, you may have questions about whether a child support modification is right for your family.  We are here to help.  Reach out to our office and set up a consult to discuss your options at 402-548-5418.