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Expecting a new child
If the non-resident parent or their partner is receiving Child Benefit for other children living with them, and they pay either the basic rate or reduced rate, they generally pay less child maintenance. This is because they also need to pay for the care of the other children living with them. In these circumstances, we work out the amount of maintenance the non-resident parent should pay based on part of their net weekly income, instead of all of their net weekly income.
If the non-resident parent pays the basic rate
If the non-resident parent pays the basic rate, we will not take account of:
- 15% of their net weekly income if there is one child living with them
- 20% of their net weekly income if there are two children living with them, or
- 25% of their net weekly income if there are three or more children living with them.
If the non-resident parent pays the reduced rate
If the non-resident parent pays the reduced rate, we use the table below to work out how much child maintenance they should pay.
| Number of children needing child maintenance | Number of children living with non-resident parent | Standard amount | Percentage of net weekly income over £100 a week, but less than £200, that a non-resident parent pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | £5, plus | 20.5% |
| 2 | £5, plus | 19% | |
| 3 or more | £5, plus | 17% | |
| 2 | 1 | £5, plus | 29% |
| 2 | £5, plus | 27% | |
| 3 or more | £5, plus | 25% | |
| 3 or more | 1 | £5, plus | 37.5% |
| 2 | £5, plus | 35% | |
| 3 or more | £5, plus | 32.5% |
Expecting a new child if you are on the old scheme
Under the old scheme, if there is a new child living with either parent and their new partner, the new child does not need to have child maintenance paid for them. The protected income of the non-resident parent and the exempt income of the parent with care could change.
This could mean the amount of child maintenance worked out could change. For more information see our old scheme leaflet Your child maintenance assessment and help in meeting exceptional circumstances.
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