Any amount received pursuant to a legal (arising from a statute) or contractual (arising from a contract) obligation is usually considered income or a pecuniary benefit to be included for the purpose of determining benefits.
However, where a person acts as GUARANTOR for a recipient and the recipient fails to pay the debt or to perform an obligation, the amount paid by the guarantor is not considered a benefit for the recipient. The surety is then personally liable to pay the recipient's debt, performing his or her own obligation and not that of the person on behalf of whom he or she acted as surety.