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What Kind of Child Support is Available?

By: Anna Martin - Updated: 6 Aug 2023 | comments*Discuss
 
Welfare Csa Child Maintenance Payments

The welfare of children and the reduction of child poverty in the UK are two of the objectives of the Child Support Agency (or CSA). This government executive agency is responsible for implementing the 1991 Child Support Act, and also forms part of the Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission (CMEC). Understanding what child maintenance is will enable parents with care to make informed choices regarding financial assistance for their child or children.

Child Support Maintenance

This maintenance payment is made by the non resident parent of a child, or children, to the parent with care to provide financial assistance with the costs of raising a family. The amount of child support paid can be arranged privately between both parents, in a private agreement, or set up, collected and distributed by the Child Support Agency.

A parent with care may apply for maintenance support by supplying relevant, current information about the non resident parent. The CSA will then gather information concerning the non resident parent’s income and circumstances, assess the claim and process the application.

Once the amount of payable maintenance has been calculated the CSA will collect payment directly from the parent, or from the parent’s employer, and distribute this to the parent with care.

This form of child maintenance provides a secure means of regular financial support, and takes into account any other benefits the recipient may already be receiving.

Child Benefit

If you have a child under the age of 16, a child over 16 who is in full-time education or training or a 16-17 year old who has left school but is registered for training, you will be eligible for regular Child Benefit payments. This tax-free payment is available even if the child does not live with you, although there are certain conditions. Namely you must contribute to the child’s upbringing and the person your child lives with is not already claiming Child Benefit.

The amount of child benefit payable is currently, eldest or only child £20.30, additional children £13.40 per child, guardian's allowance per child £14.30. This amount is paid directly into a bank account and is usually paid monthly. However, if you claim Income Support or a Jobseeker’s Allowance arrangements can be made to receive Child Benefit on a weekly basis.

If you are the child’s legal guardian you may also be entitled to Guardian’s Allowance.

Child Tax Credit

If you are the parent with care of at least one child under 16 you may be eligible for Child Tax Credit. Tax Credit payments are made by the government, to help with the day to day costs of raising a family. If you are on low income you can claim Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

In order to claim Working Tax Credit you must be responsible for a child, have a disability that causes disadvantages in finding work, or be over 50 and returning to work after a period on benefits.

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I have recently split up and going through a divorce, I'm currently giving my ex wife £300pm, and also buying my kids clothes and going halves on kids clubs etc, due to our current work shift pattern I have asked my ex if I can have my kids every other Sunday to Sunday to get then in a set routine she is denying this as she feels that I will not pay her any expenses which isn't the case, all I want is to get my kids in a decent routine,is there anything I can do?
Roscoe - 6-Aug-23 @ 5:31 PM
I am hoping you can help me. I have a complicated issue with my ex, we got divorced nearly 3 years ago due to her adultery with our children's nanny. After our divorce i moved to Spain to start a new live but i go back to UK every 8-10 weeks to see my children for 2 nights. I am self employed and my business is ok but not to the extent that i can take a salary so each month I am just about to keep my head above water. In our separation agreement we agreed that i will pay her £412 per month for the upkeep of my children, I have maintained this until recently , when i have only managed to pay her £300 per month, even though at time it leaves me with about £25 for the week to live on. The situation is now so dire because due to the current pandemic, I have not been able to trade and i have no other means of income, my ex now emails me and been really nasty, also just to add my ex works in the city and she is on 6 figure salary. I understand i have responsibility and i have never shy away from it but I need to survive also. I use to speak to my children every night but now its when she feel like it, my daughter is 11 and she bought her a phone recently and during conversation with my daughter she said she can't call me because it uses up the data on her phone, we only ever speaks when they are at home and on WiFi, I don't know what to do and I have been suffering from Anxiety and depression since our marriage broke down. Would it be better for me to contact CSA in the UK and let them know my situation? I feel like my depression is reigniting due to all of this, I miss my children but i have nothing to return to the UK for apart for my children. She won't even accept any plea i have made to her to have my children to come and spend school holidays with me, all i get back is abuse and how i will not be able to look after them, even though i was home parent for 4 years when our daughter was born so she can concentrate on her job. Can anyone help or suggest any lawyers or solicitor that will take kindly on me for me to pay them by installment. Apologies if I sound selfish and just about me, but the matter is I miss my children and I want to be in their life. Any help and advice you can give is appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Trying to do my best - 2-May-20 @ 10:44 PM
I am hoping you can help me. I have a complicated issue with my ex, we got divorced nearly 3 years ago due to her adultery with our children's nanny. After our divorce i moved to Spain to start a new live but i go back to UK every 8-10 weeks to see my children for 2 nights. I am self employed and my business is ok but not to the extent that i can take a salary so each month I am just about to keep my head above water. In our separation agreement we agreed that i will pay her £412 per month for the upkeep of my children, I have maintained this until recently , when i have only managed to pay her £300 per month, even though at time it leaves me with about £25 for the week to live on. The situation is now so dire because due to the current pandemic, I have not been able to trade and i have no other means of income, my ex now emails me and been really nasty, also just to add my ex works in the city and she is on 6 figure salary. I understand i have responsibility and i have never shy away from it but I need to survive also. I use to speak to my children every night but now its when she feel like it, my daughter is 11 and she bought her a phone recently and during conversation with my daughter she said she can't call me because it uses up the data on her phone, we only ever speaks when they are at home and on WiFi, I don't know what to do and I have been suffering from Anxiety and depression since our marriage broke down. Would it be better for me to contact CSA in the UK and let them know my situation? I feel like my depression is reigniting due to all of this, I miss my children but i have nothing to return to the UK for apart for my children. She won't even accept any plea i have made to her to have my children to come and spend school holidays with me, all i get back is abuse and how i will not be able to look after them, even though i was home parent for 4 years when our daughter was born so she can concentrate on her job. Can anyone help or suggest any lawyers or solicitor that will take kindly on me for me to pay them by installment. Apologies if I sound selfish and just about me, but the matter is I miss my children and I want to be in their life. Any help and advice you can give is appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Trying to do my best - 2-May-20 @ 10:44 PM
I am hoping you can help me. I have a complicated issue with my ex, we got divorced nearly 3 years ago due to her adultery with our children's nanny. After our divorce i moved to Spain to start a new live but i go back to UK every 8-10 weeks to see my children for 2 nights. I am self employed and my business is ok but not to the extent that i can take a salary so each month I am just about to keep my head above water. In our separation agreement we agreed that i will pay her £412 per month for the upkeep of my children, I have maintained this until recently , when i have only managed to pay her £300 per month, even though at time it leaves me with about £25 for the week to live on. The situation is now so dire because due to the current pandemic, I have not been able to trade and i have no other means of income, my ex now emails me and been really nasty, also just to add my ex works in the city and she is on 6 figure salary. I understand i have responsibility and i have never shy away from it but I need to survive also. I use to speak to my children every night but now its when she feel like it, my daughter is 11 and she bought her a phone recently and during conversation with my daughter she said she can't call me because it uses up the data on her phone, we only ever speaks when they are at home and on WiFi, I don't know what to do and I have been suffering from Anxiety and depression since our marriage broke down. Would it be better for me to contact CSA in the UK and let them know my situation? I feel like my depression is reigniting due to all of this, I miss my children but i have nothing to return to the UK for apart for my children. She won't even accept any plea i have made to her to have my children to come and spend school holidays with me, all i get back is abuse and how i will not be able to look after them, even though i was home parent for 4 years when our daughter was born so she can concentrate on her job. Can anyone help or suggest any lawyers or solicitor that will take kindly on me for me to pay them by installment. Apologies if I sound selfish and just about me, but the matter is I miss my children and I want to be in their life. Any help and advice you can give is appreciated. Thank you in advance.
Trying to do my best - 2-May-20 @ 7:26 PM
P - Your Question:
My ex and I split up 6/7?years ago. I have my daughter 4 nights of the week and her dad has her 3 nights of the week. I asked him for money once for child maintenance and he says he doesn’t need to pay me anything as he looks after her as well. Surely he has to give me something towards her upbringing regardless if he has her 3 nights? Sometimes I have her more if he goes away etc which he will be for 2 weeks soon and has done in the past.

Our Response:
Unless you have an agreed share-care arrangement where you split cost between you and you have negotiated that child maintenance need not be paid, then your ex should pay. Also, if you are the parent who is in receipt of child benefit, then you are legally allowed to claim. You may wish to give CMS a call for further information, please see the link here.
ChildSupportLaws - 27-Apr-18 @ 12:08 PM
My ex and I split up 6/7?years ago. I have my daughter 4 nights of the week and her dad has her 3 nights of the week. I asked him for money once for child maintenance and he says he doesn’t need to pay me anything as he looks after her as well. Surely he has to give me something towards her upbringing regardless if he has her 3 nights? Sometimes I have her more if he goes away etc which he will be for 2 weeks soon and has done in the past.
P - 22-Apr-18 @ 10:56 PM
Harvey - Your Question:
I have recently split up from my partner who I have a five month old child with, I am than happy to provide for the up bringing of my child however, I do not want to give any expenses to my ex partner, my question is can I provide for my child by buying clothes and food for my child on a weekly basis rather than giving my ex money as I have no guarantees she will spend on my child.

Our Response:
You can if your ex-partner agrees with this arrangement. If she doesn't, then she would have the opportunity to apply to CMS for child maintenance directly. CMS would assess you on your earnings, from which the money would then go to the mother to provide for your child directly. It is deemed that the mother does not have to justify how she spends the money, as it goes in the general pot towards providing for your child's day-to-day needs.
ChildSupportLaws - 10-Nov-17 @ 12:24 PM
I have recently split up from my partner who I have a five month old child with, I am than happy to provide for the up bringing of my child however, I do not want to give any expenses to my ex partner, my question is can I provide for my child by buying clothes and food for my child on a weekly basis rather than giving my ex money as I have no guarantees she will spend on my child.
Harvey - 7-Nov-17 @ 12:24 PM
I'm a Romanian citizen, working in Scothland, now i'm pregnant from a guy who's living in Repoublic of Moldova, and doesn't want to recognize his child. I don't get any assistance from him, do i get something from the government? Or how do i rise my kid untill 1 or 2 years? I can't come back in Romania, i have no one there
tati3nn3 - 24-Mar-17 @ 5:17 AM
Linda - Your Question:
I am 24years old with a 3year old baby gal who started schooling late last year.the dad is a UK citizen who lives and works there.recently we stopped communication and seems like the relationship is not going to work.how do I get him to support his child bearing in mind I don't stay in the UK and I stay with the child alone.thanks

Our Response:
If you live outside the UK, the Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Order (REMO) Unit helps to register and enforce child maintenance orders internationally, please see link here.
ChildSupportLaws - 22-Feb-17 @ 2:34 PM
I am 24years old with a 3year old baby gal who started schooling late last year..the dad is a UK citizen who lives and works there..recently we stopped communication and seems like the relationship is not going to work..how do I get him to support his child bearing in mind I don't stay in the UK and I stay with the child alone.thanks
Linda - 22-Feb-17 @ 12:56 PM
I have 3 children to a previous marriage. I have been paying child support for several years at the amount calculated by CSA. One of my children is over 18, so I no longer pay towards her, 1 child is 19 this year & the other is turning 16. 4 years ago, I began a new relationship & 2 1/2 years ago we had a daughter. I have still maintained paying the calculated amount & we are now finding ourselves in debt because of those outgoings & finding it difficult to provide for our daughter (my ex is remarrying this year so they will have another income if don't already do so). I was just trying to find out, sadly through desperation, if any one knows wether I could have had my payments reduced upon the the birth of my daughter. I know it seems late asking now but I have just always assumed I had to pay what I was told.
jbl - 13-Mar-13 @ 1:36 PM
i started a new job in july and contacted csa immediately to let them know i was told to forward my 1st 2 pay slips to them so they could recalculate my payments nfor callum gammie dob 7/1/1996 they visited my place of employment to make sure i worked there and the boss filled out all paperwork and faxed it to them to prevent any arrears nforming at the beginning of this week my mother foned me telling me my son was no longer at school and had been asking my brother if he had any apprenticships at the moment that his mother had thrown him out as she,s alledgedly on heroin and has hiv my son had been living with his step dad but things never worked out and is now living with friends .all i want to know is why is lorna bruce still recieving benefits at my expense and why its taken csa 5/6 months to contact me im now in arrears of 200pcm since july .and do i still pay even if hes not at his mothers thank you :)
chaz - 22-Dec-12 @ 10:12 AM
Hiim jhe ho been in singapore last 2009 visit my baby father then i got pregnant and gave birth to philippines in year 2010 then after a month of gaving birth i come back again to singapore to visit his father and fill him up the form and sign in my baby birthcertificate and try to seek an employment but i failed to got approved the pass then go back then the father of my child ask me again to comeback and try to get employment pass but unfortunately i got rejected again last year then i need to go back. now i have a one year old child who has a father in singapore an indian man working in a good company that stop communicating to us just recently because he is planning to get married to other woman whom his parents wants for him im begging for help for being unemployed here in philippines with my baby while his father in singapore only thinks his reputation and own needs we talk about the agreement before about supporting and etc. I tot we are ok already and planning to go back in singapore for trying again to have pass but the last time ive been in sg was last nov. 2011 which is my pass got rejected so he ask me to go back first then just go back in sg if i could have confirm pass alreadybut suddenly he change he fight, shout nd talking so bad on phone he always find reasons to leave always makes us feel more pain and made us cryuntil now and not communicate with us and sometimes blaming me why i cant get the pass etc. Then just recently also ive found out he will get married soon which makes me more hurt and the pain that keeps growing until now was so much hurting thinking he can do like this i gave all the trust and love to him keep on believing him and all my world sorrounds to him follow whatever he wants and being a slave now until now i feel the pain so deep he told me next month we can come there with my baby and try the dependent pass but im calling him asking help because he didnt even say anything he just not answering my calls or sms he didnt even tell me to prepare now i dont know what should i gonna do to my baby how i can raise him alone i keep on believing on him and following him as i thought everything was ok he just left us of suffering more here he didnt even tell anything now i want to ask help for him to contact him for child abandonment and support i dont know how i can get over the pains now that seeing my baby with nothing is more crashing on me on pain i want to ask help for sending him a letter of agreement for us to overcome of what was happend im begging for help please i need help sometimes my mind so blank which is i dont know where to get of his needs i dont know why he is so mean and dont know how to fulfill promises for his child which is still so little im seeking work but its so very hard now of being alone how will my baby now i always try to get pass in sg i dont know why he always blame me for not getting the pass now without of anything i dont know what should do now for a living please kindly help
jhe - 9-Jul-12 @ 7:27 PM
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