Raising children as a single parent isn’t easy, but any problems you face can be easily compounded by financial issues. If you’re struggling to make ends meet, a broken boiler, failed MOT, or the weekly shop can tip you over the edge.
That’s why you need to know your rights when it comes to child maintenance and support so you can get the help you’re entitled to.
A Lot of Parents Are Missing Out
Government data released at the end of 2023 showed that 32% of parents owing child maintenance via the Collect and Pay service didn’t pay anything [1]. A further 68% paid only some of the maintenance due.
There are some nuances to consider here, specifically that 46% of those who paid some maintenance paid over 90% of the amount owed. However, what we can draw from these statistics is that over 50% of parents due to pay child support either don’t pay or only pay a small percentage of what they owe. Enlisting the services of qualified lawyers is almost essential if you’re fighting to get the money you’re owed.
They can make sure that you know your rights, helping you secure what you’re entitled to. According to the UK family law solicitors at Reiss Edwards, child maintenance payments are owed to the primary caregiver by the parent no longer living with the child. The payments are designed to cover day-to-day living costs, including:
- The cost of feeding your child/children
- The cost of clothing your child/children
- The cost of housing your child/children
Child support can also cover certain pre-agreed costs, such as school tuition fees, but payments aren’t designed to cover luxuries such as summer holidays [2] and birthday presents. One important right that people receiving child maintenance need to know is based on disclosure. Reiss Edwards notes that, “there is no requirement for the party who receives child maintenance to prove how the money is being spent” under current UK law.
Know What You’re Owed
Now that we’ve laid the foundations for child support, let’s talk numbers. The laws regarding how much child maintenance you’ll receive are clearly defined by the government and are directly linked to the weekly income of the parent who owes the child maintenance.
For example, a parent earning under £7 per week will not be obliged to pay maintenance; a parent earning from £200 to £3,000 per week will owe a percentage that is based on income and number of children ranging from 12% to 19%. Should a parent owing maintenance not to disclose their income, they will owe £38 per week for one child, £51 for two children, and £64 for three or more children.
Other variables can be taken into account when calculating child maintenance, but the table above provides a basic outline of what you’re entitled to. Don’t put yourself under more pressure than necessary. Know your rights as a single parent and claim the money you’re owed.
Further Reading