There are three ways of sorting out child maintenance:-

• The child support agency
• Through private agreement
• Through the courts

Child maintenance is worked out by applying one of four rates to the non-resident parents “net weekly income”. Net weekly income is net of tax and national insurance. Pension contributions are deductable in full. Any bonus, commission or overtime payments are included as are receipts from a pension scheme, working family tax credit, employment credits and disabled persons tax credits. Income from savings, investments, benefits and student grants and loans are excluded.

The 4 rates which apply to the non-resident parent’s net weekly income are:

• Basic rate (if they have an income of £200 a week or more) This is 15% for one child, 20% to two and 25% for three or more.
• Reduced rate (if their income is more than £100 but less than £200 a week) This is a standard amount of £5 plus a percentage of any income over £100, 25% for one child, 35% for two children and 45% for three or more.
• Flat rate (if their income is £5 to £100 a week) This is £5 no matter how many children.
• Nil rate (if their income is less than £5 a week)

For shared care the rule is that if the care of the qualifying child is shared so that from time to time the non resident parent has the care of that child overnight the child support otherwise due to the parent with care is decreased by reference to the number of nights in a twelve month period the child in question stays with the non resident parent.

We can provide advice and assistance in dealing with child maintenance issues including writing to the child support agency on your behalf if there are issues regarding an assessment.

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