You just got a letter that says the court may use income you are not actually earning to calculate child support. That usually means a judge or child support agency believes you could be making more based on your work history, education, job skills, health, and available jobs, and will assign that amount to you anyway. In plain terms, imputed income is estimated earning capacity used instead of, or in addition to, actual wages when someone is unemployed or underemployed without a legally acceptable reason.

This can move fast and hit hard. If income is imputed, the monthly support number may rise even when your paycheck has dropped. Courts often look for proof that the lower income is real and unavoidable, such as layoffs, disability, or caregiving demands, not a voluntary choice to work less. Pay stubs, tax returns, medical records, and job search records matter right now.

In Hawaii, imputed income can be applied under the Hawaii Child Support Guidelines when a parent is found to be voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. That can affect an initial support order, a modification, or arrears. It can also matter after an injury case: if a parent was hurt in a crash and genuinely cannot work, strong evidence may prevent income from being imputed. If that proof is missing, support may be based on what the court thinks the parent should be earning, not what is actually coming in.