Child maintenance covers how your child’s living costs will be paid when one of the parents does not live with the child. It’s made when you’ve separated from the other parent
You must have a child maintenance arrangement if your child is under 16 (or under 20 if they are in approved education or training).
Both parents are responsible for the costs of raising their children, even if they do not see them.
Child maintenance can be arranged:
- privately between parents, if both parents agree
- through the Child Maintenance Service
Child maintenance payments will not affect any benefits that you and your children get, including Universal Credit. You will not have to pay tax on them.
You can make a private arrangement with your child’s other parent about how to cover your child’s living costs if both parents agree. No one else has to be involved. It’s flexible and can be changed if your circumstances change. For example, you could both agree that one parent:
- pays some of their income to the parent with day to day care
- pays for things like housing, school uniform, trips or clubs
It’s up to you to decide how much payments should be. You can use the child maintenance calculator to help.
If you cannot agree, or you feel at risk talking to the other parent, you might be able to use the Child Maintenance Service.