Parents can either
- agree that the non-resident parent will pay the parent with care direct, or
- ask for the non-resident parent to make their payments to us.
If parents agree to make their own arrangements for paying child maintenance they can choose how the non-resident parent will pay the child maintenance. The quickest and easiest way is for the non-resident parent to set up a standing order to pay the child maintenance from their bank, building society or Post Office account, direct into the parent with care's account.
Or, if the non-resident parent will be making regular child maintenance payments to us, they can pay by:
- direct debit — which is the quickest and most convenient way of making a payment
- asking their employer to agree to take the child maintenance payments direct from their earnings or pension, or
- standing order.
Clearing Debt
If a non-resident parent wants to clear any outstanding debt using a credit or debit card or through internet banking. They can find a number to call or address to write to in the top right-hand corner of the last letter we sent them. They should have their reference number ready when they call.
What happens if a non-resident parent wants to pay by direct debit?
Paying child maintenance by direct debit or standing order is a quick and convenient way of making a payment. The non-resident parent can set up the direct debit so that the money is paid to either us or to the parent with care's account direct if they agree. If the parent with care is on benefits we also have to agree that the payments can be made direct.
Or, the non-resident parent can make a standing order which transfers the payment to the parent with care or to us.
If the payments are made to us we will transfer the amount that is due to be paid to the parent with care's bank, building society or Post Office account when we get the payment from the non-resident parent.We aim to transfer child maintenance within one week of receiving it.
If you are a non-resident parent who wants to pay by direct debit or standing order, you will need to fill in some forms, which we can send to you.
If one or both parents don't have an acount and can't open one to pay or receive child maintenance they can contact us to discuss this.
What happens if a non-resident parent wants to pay direct from their earnings?
Paying child maintenance direct from earnings is easy and can help a non-resident parent to manage their finances. This is because the child maintenance is taken from their earnings before they receive them. So whatever a non-resident parent gets as take-home pay, they don't have to pay child maintenance from it. If their employer agrees, they can pay child maintenance in this way through a voluntary deduction from earnings arrangement.
Read more about voluntary deduction from earnings arrangements in our leaflet "How do I pay child maintenance" [571Kb]
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