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Who can use the CSA

Who can apply for maintenance through the CSA?

A parent or person with care or a non-resident parent can ask us to work out child maintenance and set up a payment arrangement.

In some circumstances, we may not be able to accept an application. For example, we may not accept cases where:

  • the parent with care or the children are living abroad, or
  • the non-resident parent lives abroad and does not work for a UK-based employer, the civil service or the armed forces, or
  • a court order instructing the non-resident parent to pay child maintenance was made before April 2003, or
  • a court order covering child maintenance was made after April 2003 but has not been in force for 12 months, or
  • there is a written maintenance agreement which was made before 5 April 1993.

If there is an existing court order or written maintenance agreement (as described above) and either parent wants to change it, you should apply to the court where the maintenance arrangement was made.

Applications from children

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, only a parent, grandparent or guardian of the child can apply for child maintenance. However, in Scotland, some young people can apply for child maintenance if nobody else is receiving child maintenance payments for them.

Children in Scotland

A child living in Scotland can apply for child maintenance if:

  • they are aged between 12 and 19 and are in full-time education (up to Higher and Advanced Higher), and
  • they live apart from one or both of their parents, and
  • the parent (or parents) they don't live with have their home in Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland (the UK). Or they live abroad but work work for a UK-based employer, the civil service or the armed forces.

When can't a child living in Scotland apply?

They cannot apply for child maintenance if someone has already applied for them. The person who has applied could be:

  • one of their parents
  • the person they live with
  • an older brother or sister.

Also, they cannot apply for child maintenance if their parents have:

  • a written maintenance agreement
  • a Minute of Agreement
  • a maintenance order in force.

If you want to know more, read our leaflet 'How do I apply for child maintenance? For children living in Scotland' [PDF 209Kb] PDF

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