What happens if the non-resident parent has to pay for other children?
If a non-resident parent has to pay child maintenance to more than one parent with care through us, we work out the total amount of child maintenance the non-resident parent has to pay through us. We then share this amount between equally so the same amount is paid for each child.
The non-resident parent can make payments of the total amount through us, and we will then pass on the right amount to each parent with care. Or, the non resident parent can pay each parent with care directly.
However, if any of the parents with care are receiving Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, the non-resident parent has to make one regular payment through us for all the children they need to pay child maintenance for.
What happens if the non-resident parent has other children living with them?
If the non-resident parent or their partner are 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 weekly income, instead of all of their 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
- 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 because they have other children living with them, 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% |
