Voluntary agreements for Child Support

A voluntary agreement for Child Support is when a carer and liable parent agree who pays Child Support and how much will be paid. They register this agreement with Inland Revenue, who collects and passes the money from the liable parent to the receiving carer.

Carers getting an Unsupported Child's Benefit, can only keep a voluntary agreement of Child Support if they have applied for formula-assessed Child Support and the voluntary agreement amount is more than the formula assessment amount.

The formula-assessed amount is used to help pay the carer's Unsupported Child's Benefit and any amount over the benefit rate is paid to the carer