Website of the UK government

Your child maintenance options

If you are a parent it is important that your financial responsibility for your child does not end if your relationship with the other parent ends. Putting an effective child maintenance agreement in place can make a notable difference to a child’s well-being.

The two main options you can choose from for arranging a child maintenance agreement are:

• making a private arrangement with the other parent
• using the Child Support Agency (CSA) as the statutory maintenance service to calculate and collect maintenance for you
  

Understanding more about your options

If you would like to find out more about your options please visit the Child Maintenance Options website. The Child Maintenance Options service is a free service providing impartial information to help both parents make an informed choice about maintenance.

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How maintenance affects benefits

Since 12 April 2010, you can keep all of the maintenance that you are paid without it affecting your benefit entitlement. However, you must continue to tell Jobcentre Plus about any maintenance payments you get.

Find out more about maintenance and benefits on the Child Maintenance Options website.

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Maintenance if your ex-partner lives abroad

The UK has arrangements with more than 100 countries and territories that mean a person living in one country can claim maintenance from an ex-partner living in another. Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders - or REMO - is the name used in the UK for this process. REMO claims are handled by the courts. Follow the first link below for a list of all the countries that the UK has a REMO arrangement with.

Making a claim against someone abroad

If you already have a court order for maintenance from when your ex-partner still lived in the UK, you should go to the court that made the order. Use the link to the CourtFinder below to find contact details for the court. Staff at the court will be able to explain the process you will need to follow.

If you don’t already have a court order for maintenance (if you only have a CSA assessment, for example), you should contact your local magistrates' court or family proceedings court about applying for maintenance from the ex-partner living abroad.

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• More information about the REMO unit Opens new window

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Other financial support available

Tax credits

If you start work and are on a low income, you may be able to get money from tax credits. If you are responsible for at least one child or young person who normally lives with you, you may qualify for Child Tax Credit to help with the cost of looking after them.

Your local Jobcentre Plus office will be able to tell you what you are eligible for.

• Contact Jobcentre Plus

• Tax credits and Child Benefit

In Work Credit

In Work Credit is a fixed tax-free payment that may be available if you are a parent bringing up children alone. Use the link below to find out if you can claim this.

• In Work Credit (employment section)

More useful links

• Expecting or bringing up children - benefits information

• Home Responsibilities Protection - State Pension help for carers/parents

• Child Trust Fund - saving your child's money

• Benefits and help for parents going back to work (parents section)