If the gross income of the obligor is equal to or less than 150 percent of the federal poverty level, then the court, upon hearing evidence that there is no ability to pay the presumptive statutory minimum, may set an obligation below the presumptive statutory minimum provided doing so does not create or reduce a support obligation to an amount which seriously impairs the custodial parent's ability to maintain minimal adequate housing and provide other basic necessities for the child. Exemptions from this presumptive minimum monthly child support obligation shall include: parents unable to pay child support because they lack sufficient assets from which to pay child support and who, in addition, are institutionalized in a psychiatric facility; are imprisoned for life with no chance of parole; are medically verified to be totally and permanently disabled with no evidence of potential for paying child support, including recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI); or are otherwise involuntarily unable to produce income. 

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title20/chapter6/section20-108.2/

In the case heard in court today, the mother and father have shared custody, 63 and 37 percent respectively. The judge initially signed a $0 order three years ago. This year, when the mother was between jobs, she filed a request to amend the order, on which she claimed the father was employed. She was employed again before the hearing and claimed $5.9k/mon income as a bartender. The father claimed $0/mon income due to disability without SSI for six consecutive years. The father provided documentation of his disability and documentation of uncollectible housing debt. In spite of this, the judge disregarded the evidence provided and ordered him to pay $76/mon to the mother. If the judge had followed Virginia State Guidelines, the mother would have been ordered to pay the father $636/mon. The father was content with the original $0 order and does not want the mother's payments. He only wants more time with his children. But because of the mother's spiteful, manipulating deceipt, and the judge's careless lack of efforts to afford time and attention to this decision, the father became another victim, experiencing longlasting financial effects. This is so disheartening. If there are groups that can help this father, please share on this post.