If your spouse has a severe disability and cannot be expected to work, you may be ordered to pay alimony for an undetermined amount of time. Spousal support cases are started with a spousal support petition in Family Court.There is no filing fee in Family Court. A parent or other legally responsible adult can ask Family Court for a support order for an adult dependent that is developmentally disabled. When calculating alimony, SSDI payments are considered income, while SSI is not. To start your case, go to a Family Court clerk and ask them to help you with a "Spousal Support Petition. Alimony, or "spousal maintenance" in New York, is a payment that one spouse makes to the other spouse during or after a divorce. The purpose of a maintenance award is to help the receiving spouse become financially independent after a divorce. A support petition is a form that tells both your husband (the respondent) and the Judge what you (the petitioner) want. Our NYC alimony lawyers are dedicated to helping clients with their spousal support concerns.