The Self-Support Reserve (SSR) is a minimum income protection limit set by Washington State to ensure a paying parent is not left impoverished after paying child support. In 2026, the SSR is $2,394 (180% of the federal poverty level).
RCW 26.19.065(2)(b) states the basic support obligation of the parent making the transfer payment shall not reduce their net income below the self-support reserve of 180% of the federal poverty level for a one-person family. In 2026 this amount is $2,394 per month.
When a parent's calculated child support obligation would leave them with less than $2,394 per month after paying, the obligation is automatically reduced. The SSR does not eliminate the obligation entirely — the minimum payment is still $50 per child per month regardless of income. Understanding this term is important when completing your child support calculation. Use our worksheet calculator to see how this applies to your case.
The SSR applies only to the basic support obligation. Healthcare premiums, daycare costs, and extraordinary expenses are calculated separately and may be added on top of the SSR-reduced amount.
The SSR is recalculated annually based on the federal poverty guideline. The 2026 value of $2,394 replaces the previous 2025 value of $2,347.50. Always confirm the current SSR at courts.wa.gov before filing.
If your net income minus your calculated obligation falls below $2,394 your payment will be reduced to Payer Net Income minus $2,394. The higher your income relative to the obligation the less likely SSR applies. SSR most commonly affects lower income paying parents with high table obligations relative to their earnings.
The SSR check applies to whichever parent is making the transfer payment. If the paying parent's net income is above $2,394 plus their obligation the SSR does not reduce their payment.
Use our 2026 Washington State estimator to see how these legal terms impact your support amount. All calculators are RCW 26.19 compliant.