CSA Child Calculator

Under Section 55 of the Child Support Act 1991, a person is legally defined as a 'qualifying child' if they are under the age of 16, or aged 16 to 19 inclusive and enrolled in full-time non-advanced education or approved training. Crucially, statutory child maintenance is inextricably linked to Child Benefit entitlement: if Child Benefit cannot be legally claimed for the child, CMS liability cannot exist.

Once a young person reaches their 20th birthday, they immediately cease to be a qualifying child under UK statutory legislation, regardless of whether they remain in secondary school or college.

The distinction between 'non-advanced' and 'advanced' education is the single most common cause of parent disputes. Non-advanced education includes courses up to Level 3: GCSEs, A-Levels, T-Levels, Scottish Highers, and BTEC Level 3 qualifications, provided tuition exceeds 12 hours per week.

Advanced education encompasses all university-level programs: Bachelor's degrees, Higher National Certificates (HNC), and Higher National Diplomas (HND). The moment a 18-year-old enters university in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, statutory child maintenance terminates completely by operation of law.

Before a child maintenance assessment can be established, legal parentage must be proven. Under Section 26 of the Child Support Act 1991, the CMS presumes parentage if: (a) the individual was married to the mother at the time of conception or birth; (b) the individual is named on the child's birth certificate; or (c) parentage has been declared by a court.

If parentage is disputed, the CMS halts collection fees and arranges government-accredited DNA swab testing. If the test is positive, the alleged father pays for the test fee and full arrears accrue from the initial claim date.