If you are a non-resident parent and you are unable to pay what you owe you should contact us straight away. We will discuss your circumstances and offer a number of payment options.
Clearing debt
If you want to clear any outstanding debt, you can call 08457 133 133 and pay using a credit, debit card or by making a payment through your bank.
What arrangements can a non-resident parent make to pay child maintenance?
For all cases where child maintenance is arranged through us, parents can either agree that:
- the non-resident parent will pay the parent with care direct, or
- the non-resident parent will make payments through us.
If the payments are made through us the non-resident parent can pay by:
- direct debit - which is the quickest and most convenient way of making a payment
- asking their employer to agree to take the child maintenance payments direct from their earnings or pension.
If a non-resident parent gets benefits, a State Pension or War Pension, we will usually take their child maintenance direct from their benefits or pension.
Parents can agree to make their own arrangements for paying child maintenance, and so choose how the non-resident parent will pay the child maintenance. The quickest and easiest way is for the non-resident parent to set up a standing order to transfer payments of child maintenance from their bank, building society or Post Office account, direct into the account of the parent with care.
When we get the payment from the non-resident parent, we will transfer the amount due to be paid to the parent with care's bank, building society or Post Office account. We aim to transfer child maintenance within one week of receiving it.
What happens if I want to pay by direct debit?
Paying child maintenance by direct debit is a quick and convenient way of making a payment.
You can make a standing order from your bank, building society or Post Office account directly into the account of the parent with care if they agree.
Or, you can make a direct debit to us. Where appropriate, we will then transfer the payment to the parent with care’s bank, building society or Post Office account. We aim to transfer child maintenance within one week of receiving it.
If you want to pay by direct debit, you will need to fill in some forms, which we can send you.
What happens if a non-resident parent wants to pay direct from their earnings?
If the non-resident parent is employed, they can pay child maintenance direct from their earnings through a deduction from earnings order. Their child maintenance is taken from their earnings before they receive them, so whatever they get as take-home pay, they don’t have to pay child maintenance from it.
Read more about deduction from earnings orders in our leaflet "How do I pay child maintenance?" [PDF 571KB]
Related information
- Read our leaflet
"How do I pay child maintenance?" [PDF 251Kb]
- Read our leaflet
"What action can the Child Support Agency take if parents don't pay?" [PDF 218KB]
