A Brief Introduction to the Calculation of Child Maintenance Payments by the Child Support Agency (CSA)

The CSA works out the amount of child maintenance using the weekly net income of the non-resident parent (that is the parent living in a separate household from the parent with care and qualifying child(ren) for whom they are liable to pay maintenance).  The amount of child benefit depends on:-

  1. The number of qualifying children the child maintenance is for;
  2. The net income and circumstances of the non-resident parent;
  3. The number of children living with the non-resident parent;

The non-resident parent’s income usually includes earnings (including overtime), profit from their business (if self employed) or an occupational or personal pension.  The following deduction are made from gross pay to calculate net income:-

  1. Income Tax;
  2. National Insurance contributions; and
  3. Contributions to approved occupational or personal pension schemes.

Non-resident parents with a net weekly income of more than £200 a week will pay a basic rate.  This is a percentage of that parent’s net weekly income after Tax, National Insurance and pension contributions have been deducted.  The rates are as follows:-

  1. 15% if there is one qualifying child;
  2. 20% for two qualifying children; and
  3. 25% for three or more qualifying children.

If a child stays overnight with the non-resident parent on a regular basis, child maintenance for that child will be reduced on the basis of 1/7 for each night of weekly shared care as follows:-

  1. 52 to 103 nights care per year – 1/7 reduction;
  2. 104 to 155 nights care per year – 2/7 reduction;
  3. 156 to 174 nights care per year – 3/7 reduction;
  4. 175 or more nights care per year – 1/2 reduction.

The above details set out in summary only some of the most important provisions relating to the CSA assessment of child maintenance.

For further information regarding matters arising from this article, please telephone Christian Abletshauser on
01932 852057, or email him: ChristianAbletshauser@meadowsfraser.com