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Money, tax and benefits

Money, tax and benefits

Child Maintenance

Child Maintenance (CM) is paid by a non-resident parent to help you raise their child. So if you care for a child whose other parent lives elsewhere - that parent should give you money. The Child Support Agency can work out and collect CM for you.

Who can apply for Child Maintenance

You can ask for Child Maintenance to be worked out and collected if any of the following apply:

  • you're getting Child Benefit
  • you're a parent with care of your child
  • you're a parent not living with your child
  • you're another person caring for a child

Special rules apply if any of the following apply:

  • you have care of your child and you get Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • there are other maintenance arrangements for your child
  • you or the other parent live outside the UK

In Scotland, the CSA can also accept applications from a child aged 12 or over - who can apply in their own right.

Who can't get Child Maintenance?

You won't get Child Maintenance from a parent who is:

  • a student in full-time education (on a recognised course involving at least 12 hours a week tuition)
  • aged 16 to 19 and in full-time 'non-advanced' education (up to A level, NVQ level 3 or equivalent)
  • in prison
  • living in a residential care or nursing home and getting help with the fees

You won't usually get the CSA to pursue your application for Child Maintenance if the parent involved lives outside the UK - unless they work for a UK-based employer or serve with HM Armed Forces.

How much do you get?

The amount of Child Maintenance a non-resident parent has to pay usually depends on:

  • the non-resident parent's income after tax
  • the number of children who qualify for maintenance
  • the number of other children living with the non-resident parent

You can use the CSA's 'maintenance calculator' to see how much you may be paid.

How it's paid

Your Child Maintenance will be paid into your bank, building society, Post Office® or National Savings account that accepts Direct Payments.

Or it can be paid direct from the non-resident parent to the parent caring for the child.

Effect on benefits or tax credits

Child Maintenance doesn't affect tax credits.

If you're getting Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance, the CSA will apply for Child Maintenance on your behalf, unless you ask them not to (known as 'opting out').

You may think that a 'good cause' for opting out would be risk of harm or undue distress to you or your children, should the CSA try to arrange Child Maintenance.

Without 'good cause', opting out could mean that:

  • you can't get Child Maintenance Premium, which allows families to get up to an extra £10 per week with Child Maintenance
  • your benefit may be reduced, after a 'reduced benefit decision'

If you think this could apply to you, tell your local Jobcentre Plus office.

How to apply

To apply for Child Maintenance you can do any of the following:

  • claim online, below
  • register on the CSA website
  • download an application form, below

What to do if your circumstances change

It's important you tell the CSA straight away if there's a change to:

  • the number of qualifying children you're looking after
  • the number of other children living with the non-resident parent

You can ask for a Child Maintenance calculation to be changed if:

  • the non-resident parent's net weekly income changes by five per cent or more
  • something else affects the calculation, for example if you start sharing care with the other parent

How to appeal

The CSA makes decisions about Child Maintenance payments.

If you think a decision on Child Maintenance is wrong, you can appeal.

You can call the CSA National Helpline 08457 133 133, textphone 08457 138 924 (8.00 am to 8.00 pm Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm on Saturdays).

For questions about your existing case, you'll need to contact the CSA centre that's been dealing with you.

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