Child Support: Who Qualifies and What You Get
Understand the child support system in New Zealand, including eligibility requirements and how custody arrangements affect payments.
Child support is a system designed to ensure that children receive consistent financial contributions from both parents following a separation. This system helps manage the costs of raising children by facilitating payments from the non-custodial parent.
Who it's for
This scheme is available to separated parents or caregivers who are responsible for the care of children. To qualify, the children involved must be under the age of 19.
What you get
If you qualify, you can receive regular financial contributions from the non-custodial parent. These payments are managed by the Inland Revenue to ensure that the funds are collected and distributed to the appropriate caregiver to help cover the costs of raising the child.
What it costs you
While there is no specific monetary fee to access the scheme, there is an investment of time and effort required to set it up. You will need to provide specific information so the government can perform a formal assessment. This process requires you to provide details regarding your current income and your specific custody arrangements to ensure the assessment is accurate.
The catch to know
The most important thing to understand is that the payment amounts are not fixed. The calculation formula used by the government is dynamic; it changes based on the percentage of care provided to the child. Because the amount depends on how much time the child spends in each household, any change in your living or custody arrangements could result in a change to the payment amount.
How to apply
- Prepare your documentation regarding your current income and financial status.
- Gather details about your custody arrangements and how much time the child spends with each parent.
- Submit your information to the Inland Revenue for a formal assessment of your situation.