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CHILD MAINTENANCE CALCULATOR
The new Child Support rules came into force on 3rd March 2003.

What is Child Maintenance?

This is a sum of money which is paid for children by the parent that they do not live with (i.e. non-resident parent).

The amount of child maintenance to be paid depends on:-

  1. the number of qualifying children;
  2. the non-resident parent's net income and circumstances;
  3. the number of children living the non-resident part (i.e. relevant other children)

Basic Rate

Non-Resident parents with a net weekly income of more than £200 p.w. will pay this rate. This is a % of their net weekly income (with tax, national insurance and pension contributions also being deducted).

The rates are:-

  1. 15% one child;
  2. 20% two children;
  3. 25% three or more qualifying children

If a non-resident parent has children living with them in their current family, the CSA use a lower amount of net weekly income to work out the appropriate child maintenance and the non-resident parent's net income is reduced by:-

  1. 15% one relevant other child;
  2. 20% two relevant other children;
  3. 25% three or more relevant other children

Reduced Rate

Non-resident parent's with a net weekly income of more than £100 but less than £200 p.w. will pay this rate:-

£5 p.w. on the first £100 plus a % of the net weekly income over £100 p.w. and once again may be reduced if the non-resident parent has relevant other children

Flat Rate

If the non-resident parent has a net income of £100 p.w. or less or receives specific benefits, they will have to pay £5 p.w.

Nil Rate

The following non-resident parents do not have to pay any child maintenance:-

  1. Students in full time education
  2. Non-resident parents aged 16-19 years in full time non advanced education
  3. Prisoners
  4. People living in residential care or nursing home and getting help with the fees.

Variations

Can only be made in exceptional cases for example you have a child who is living with you has a long term illness or disability.

Shared Care

If a child stays overnight with the non-resident parent on a regular basis, maintenance for that child will be reduced. This is done on the basis of 1/7th for each night of weekly shared care:-

Number of nights of overnight care by non-resident parent per year: Child maintenance for the child will be reduced by:
52-103
1/7th
104-155
2/7th
156-174
3/7th
175 or more
½

Maintenance will also be reduced by an additional £7 for each child that the non-resident parents looks after for 175 nights or more a year.

Child maintenance will not be reduced if the child stays with the non-resident parent for less than 52 nights a year.

There is a ceiling of £2000 on the net weekly income of the non-resident parent and the maximum amount of maintenance that can be enforced through the Child Support Agency is £300 p.w.

If you would like a rough guide of what maintenance may be, please use our:

CHILD MAINTENANCE CALCULATOR

Please enter the following information:
The non-resident parent's net weekly income £
The number of qualifying child(ren)
The number of nights (on average) the non-resident parent has the child(ren)
The number of any relevant other children living with the non-resident parent
 

The above are the basic rules on Child Support, however, there are many aspects which may be relevant to your particular case and circumstances which have not been dealt with above. It is advisable to seek independent legal advice and we will of course be able to assist you with any queries you may have with regard to your family affairs.