How Child Support Works

What is child support?

Child support is money paid by parents who do not live with their children or who share care with someone else. The money is to help with the cost of raising a child.
Child support is often put in place when parents separate. It’s also used when someone who is not a parent, like a grandparent or guardian, is caring for a child.

You can make your own arrangements or IRD can help set an amount and pass the money on.

Who is eligible?

Child support can be arranged in families when one of these is true:

·         parents live apart and share care of a child

·         parents live apart and one parent looks after a child full time

·         someone who is not a parent lives with and looks after a child.

Child support applies to children who are under 18 years old or 18 years old and still at school.

Types of child support arrangements

There are three different ways to set up child support in New Zealand:

·         we decide the amount and arrange the payments – formula assessment

·         you decide the amount and we arrange the payments – voluntary agreement

·         you decide the amount and arrange payments without us – private agreement

If you are on a Sole Parent Benefit or Unsupported Child’s Benefit the formula assessment is the only option.

Reference: https://www.ird.govt.nz/topics/child-support/about-child-support