Legal changes have happened in child maintenance over the last few years. They mainly affect parents with the main day-to-day care who are on benefit.
Since 27 October 2008, all parents have had the choice of setting up a child maintenance arrangement using the CSA, making a private agreement about child maintenance with the other parent or using the courts.
Until the law changed, if you were the parent with the main day-to-day care and you were on benefit, you had to arrange child maintenance using the Child Support Agency (CSA). You weren't able to opt out and make a private agreement with the other parent.
Since 12 April 2010, all parents with the main day-to-day care who receive income-related benefits have been allowed to keep all of their child maintenance, without it affecting their entitlement to benefit.
Until the law changed, if you were the parent with the main day-to-day care and you were on benefit, the amount of child maintenance you received may have affected the amount of benefits you received.
