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Child Maintenance Bonus
You may be able to get Child Maintenance Bonus if you're getting Child Maintenance under the old scheme (calculated before 3 March 2003) and your benefit is ending because you've started work or your income has increased.
Who is eligible?
If you're getting Child Maintenance (calculated before 3 March 2003) and you claim Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, you may be eligible for the Child Maintenance Bonus if:
- you take up work for 16 hours or more per week
- your earnings increase
Who isn't eligible?
If your Child Maintenance was calculated after 3 March 2003, you won't be able to get Child Maintenance Bonus.
But you might be eligible for Child Maintenance Premium or Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit - your local Jobcentre Plus office will be able to tell you.
How much do you get?
Child Maintenance Bonus can be up to £5 per week, depending on the amount of Child Maintenance that's been paid while you were getting benefit. The total payment is a maximum £1,000.
How it's paid
The Child Maintenance Bonus is a one-off payment into your bank, building society, Post Office® or National Saving account that accepts Direct Payment. If you have any queries about how it's paid, you can contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.
Effect on benefits or tax credits
The Child Maintenance Bonus won't affect other benefits or tax credits.
How to claim
You must claim Child Maintenance Bonus within 28 days of your benefit ending.
If you'd like to claim, you can ask your local Jobcentre Plus office for a Child Maintenance Bonus claim form CMB1, or download one from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) website.
How to appeal
If your claim for Child Maintenance Bonus isn't successful, or you have any queries about your claim, you can ask the Jobcentre Plus office that dealt with it to look again at their decision.
If you're still unhappy with the outcome, you can appeal.
What else you need to know
The Child Maintenance Bonus is being phased out and will be replaced by Child Maintenance Premium.
For more information about how the changes will affect you, you can contact the Child Support Agency national helpline on 08457 133 133 (8.00 am to 8.00 pm Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm on Saturday) or your local Jobcentre Plus office.
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