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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> United Kingdom Statutory Instruments >> The Child Support (Variations) Regulations 2000 No. 156 URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/legis/num_reg/2001/20010156.html

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"Contributions and Benefits Act" means the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992[3];

"couple" has the same meaning as in paragraph 10C(5) of Schedule 1 to the Act;

"date of notification" means the date upon which notification is given in person or communicated by telephone to the recipient or, where this is not possible, the date of posting;

"date of receipt" means the day on which the information or document is actually received;

"home" has the meaning given in regulation 1(2) of the Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases Regulations;

"Maintenance Calculation Procedure Regulations" means the Child Support (Maintenance Calculation Procedure) Regulations 2000[4];

"Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases Regulations" means the Child Support (Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases) Regulations 2000[5];

"qualifying child" means the child with respect to whom the maintenance calculation falls to be made;

"relevant person" means - 

(a) a non-resident parent, or a person treated as a non-resident parent under regulation 8 of the Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases Regulations, whose liability to pay child support maintenance may be affected by any variation agreed;

(b) a person with care, or a child to whom section 7 of the Act applies, where the amount of child support maintenance payable by virtue of a calculation relevant to that person with care or in respect of that child may be affected by any variation agreed; and

"Transitional Regulations" means the Child Support (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2000[6].

    (3) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, a reference - 

(a) to a numbered Part, is to the Part of these Regulations bearing that number;

(b) to the Schedule, is to the Schedule to these Regulations;

(c) to a numbered regulation, is to the regulation in these Regulations bearing that number;

(d) in a regulation, or the Schedule, to a numbered paragraph, is to the paragraph in that regulation or the Schedule bearing that number; and

(e) in a paragraph to a lettered or numbered sub-paragraph, is to the sub-paragraph in that paragraph bearing that letter or number.

Documents
     2. Except where otherwise stated, where - 

(a) any document is given or sent to the Secretary of State, that document shall be treated as having been so given or sent on the date of receipt by the Secretary of State; and

(b) any document is given or sent to any other person, that document shall, if sent by post to that person's last known or notified address, be treated as having been given or sent on the date that it is posted.

Determination of amounts
     3.  - (1) Where any amount is required to be determined for the purposes of these Regulations, it shall be determined as a weekly amount and, except where the context otherwise requires, any reference to such an amount shall be construed accordingly.

    (2) Where any calculation made under these Regulations results in a fraction of a penny, that fraction shall be treated as a penny if it is either one half or exceeds one half and shall be otherwise disregarded.

Prescribed circumstances
     7.  - (1) This regulation applies where an application for a variation is made under section 28G of the Act and - 

(a) the application is made by a relevant person and a circumstance set out in paragraph (2) applies at the relevant date;

(b) the application is made by a non-resident parent and a circumstance set out in paragraph (3) or (4) applies at the relevant date;

(c) the application is made by a person with care, or a child to whom section 7 of the Act applies, on a ground in paragraph 4 of Schedule 4B to the Act (additional cases) and a circumstance set out in paragraph (5) applies at the relevant date; or

(d) the application is made by a non-resident parent on a ground in paragraph 2 of Schedule 4B to the Act (special expenses) and a circumstance set out in paragraph (6) applies at the relevant date.

    (2) The circumstances for the purposes of this paragraph are that - 

(a) a default maintenance decision is in force with respect to the non-resident parent;

(b) the non-resident parent is liable to pay the flat rate of child support maintenance owing to the application of paragraph 4(1)(c) of Schedule 1 to the Act, or would be so liable but is liable to pay less than that amount, or nil, owing to the application of paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 to the Act, or the Transitional Regulations; or

(c) the non-resident parent is liable to pay child support maintenance at a flat rate of a prescribed amount owing to the application of paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 1 to the Act, or would be so liable but is liable to pay less than that amount, or nil, owing to the application of paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 to the Act, or the Transitional Regulations.

    (3) The circumstances for the purposes of this paragraph are that the non-resident parent is liable to pay child support maintenance - 

(a) at the nil rate owing to the application of paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 to the Act;

(b) at a flat rate owing to the application of paragraph 4(1)(a) of Schedule 1 to the Act, including where the net weekly income of the non-resident parent which is taken into account for the purposes of a maintenance calculation in force in respect of him is £100 per week or less owing to a variation being taken into account or to the application of regulation 18, 19 or 21 of the Transitional Regulations (reduction for relevant departure direction or relevant property transfer); or

(c) at a flat rate owing to the application of paragraph 4(1)(b) of Schedule 1 to the Act, or would be so liable but is liable to pay less than that amount, or nil, owing to the application of paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 to the Act, or the Transitional Regulations.

    (4) The circumstances for the purposes of this paragraph are that the non-resident parent is liable to pay an amount of child support maintenance at a rate - 

(a) of £5 per week or such other amount as may be prescribed owing to the application of paragraph 7(7) of Schedule 1 to the Act (shared care); or

(b) equivalent to the flat rate provided for in, or prescribed for the purposes of, paragraph 4(1)(b) of Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Act owing to the application of - 


(i) regulation 27(5);

(ii) regulation 9 of the Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases Regulations (care provided in part by a local authority); or

(iii) regulation 23(5) of the Transitional Regulations.

    (5) The circumstances for the purposes of this paragraph are that - 

(a) the amount of the net weekly income of the non-resident parent to which the Secretary of State had regard when making the maintenance calculation was the capped amount; or

(b) the non-resident parent or a partner of his is in receipt of working families' tax credit (as defined in section 128 of the Contributions and Benefits Act) or disabled person's tax credit (as defined in section 129[7] of that Act) and for this purpose "partner" has the same meaning as in paragraph 10C(4) of Schedule 1 to the Act.

    (6) The circumstances for the purposes of this paragraph are that the amount of the net weekly income of the non-resident parent to which the Secretary of State would have regard after deducting the amount of the special expenses would exceed the capped amount.

    (7) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the "relevant date" means the date from which, if the variation were agreed, the decision under section 16 or 17 of the Act, as the case may be, would take effect.

Provision of information
     8.  - (1) Where an application has been duly made, the Secretary of State may request further information or evidence from the applicant to enable that application to be determined and any such information or evidence requested shall be provided within one month of the date of notification of the request or such longer period as the Secretary of State is satisfied is reasonable in the circumstances of the case.

    (2) Where any information or evidence requested in accordance with paragraph (1) is not provided in accordance with the time limit specified in that paragraph, the Secretary of State may, where he is able to do so, proceed to determine the application in the absence of the requested information or evidence.

Procedure in relation to the determination of an application
     9.  - (1) Subject to paragraph (3), where the Secretary of State has given the preliminary consideration to an application and not rejected it he - 

(a) shall give notice of the application to the relevant persons other than the applicant, informing them of the grounds on which the application has been made and any relevant information or evidence the applicant has given, except information or evidence falling within paragraph (2);

(b) may invite representations, which need not be in writing but shall be in writing if in any case he so directs, from the relevant persons other than the applicant on any matter relating to that application, to be submitted to the Secretary of State within 14 days of the date of notification or such longer period as the Secretary of State is satisfied is reasonable in the circumstances of the case; and

(c) shall set out the provisions of paragraphs (2)(b) and (c), (4) and (5) in relation to such representations.

    (2) The information or evidence referred to in paragraphs (1)(a), (4)(a) and (7), are - 

(a) details of the nature of the long-term illness or disability of the relevant other child which forms the basis of a variation application on the ground in regulation 11 where the applicant requests they should not be disclosed and the Secretary of State is satisfied that disclosure is not necessary in order to be able to determine the application;

(b) medical evidence or medical advice which has not been disclosed to the applicant or a relevant person and which the Secretary of State considers would be harmful to the health of the applicant or that relevant person if disclosed to him; or

(c) the address of a relevant person or qualifying child, or any other information which could reasonably be expected to lead to that person or child being located, where the Secretary of State considers that there would be a risk of harm or undue distress to that person or that child or any other children living with that person if the address or information were disclosed.

    (3) The Secretary of State need not act in accordance with paragraph (1) - 

(a) where regulation 29 applies (variation may be taken into account notwithstanding that no application has been made);

(b) where the variation agreed is one falling within paragraph 3 of Schedule 4B to the Act (property or capital transfer), the Secretary of State ceases to have jurisdiction to make a maintenance calculation and subsequently acquires jurisdiction in respect of the same non-resident parent, person with care and any child in respect of whom the earlier calculation was made;

(c) if he is satisfied on the information or evidence available to him that the application would not be agreed to, but if, on further consideration of the application, he is minded to agree to the variation he shall, before doing so, comply with the provisions of this regulation; or

(d) where - 


(i) a variation has been agreed in relation to a maintenance calculation;

(ii) the decision as to the maintenance calculation is replaced with a default maintenance decision under section 12(1)(b) of the Act;

(iii) the default maintenance decision is revised in accordance with section 16(1B) of the Act,



and the Secretary of State is satisfied, on the information or evidence available to him, that there has been no material change of circumstances relating to the variation since the date from which the maintenance calculation referred to in head (i) ceased to have effect.

    (4) Where the Secretary of State receives representations from the relevant persons - 

(a) he may, if he considers it reasonable to do so, send a copy of the representations concerned (excluding material falling within paragraph (2)) to the applicant and invite any comments he may have within 14 days or such longer period as the Secretary of State is satisfied is reasonable in the circumstances of the case; and

(b) where the Secretary of State acts under sub-paragraph (a) he shall not proceed to determine the application until he has received such comments or the period referred to in that sub-paragraph has expired.

    (5) Where the Secretary of State has not received representations from the relevant persons notified in accordance with paragraph (1) within the time limit specified in sub-paragraph (b) of that paragraph, he may proceed to agree or not (as the case may be) to a variation in their absence.

    (6) In considering an application for a variation, the Secretary of State shall take into account any representations received at the date upon which he agrees or not (as the case may be) to the variation from the relevant persons, including any representation received in accordance with paragraphs (1)(b), 4(a) and (7).

    (7) Where any information or evidence requested by the Secretary of State under regulation 8 is received after notification has been given under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State may, if he considers it reasonable to do so, and except where such information or evidence falls within paragraph (2), send a copy of such information or evidence to the relevant persons and may invite them to submit representations, which need not be in writing unless the Secretary of State so directs in any particular case, on that information or evidence.

    (8) The Secretary of State may, if he considers it appropriate, treat an application for a variation made on one ground as if it were an application made on a different ground, and, if he does intend to do so, he shall include this information in the notice and invitation to make representations referred to in paragraphs (1), (4) and (7).

    (9) Two or more applications for a variation with respect to the same maintenance calculation or application for a maintenance calculation, made or treated as made, may be considered together.

    (4) For the purposes of this regulation, costs of contact shall not include costs which relate to periods where the non-resident parent has care of a qualifying child overnight as part of a shared care arrangement for which provision is made under paragraphs 7 and 8 of Schedule 1 to the Act and regulation 7 of the Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases Regulations.

    (5) Where the non-resident parent has at the date he makes the variation application received, or at that date is in receipt of, or where he will receive, any financial assistance, other than a loan, from any source to meet, wholly or in part, the costs of maintaining contact with a child as referred to in paragraph (1), only the amount of the costs referred to in that paragraph, after the deduction of the financial assistance, shall constitute special expenses for the purposes of paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 4B to the Act.

Special expenses - illness or disability of relevant other child
     11.  - (1) Subject to the following paragraphs of this regulation, expenses necessarily incurred by the non-resident parent in respect of the items listed in sub-paragraphs (a) to (m) due to the long-term illness or disability of a relevant other child shall constitute special expenses for the purposes of paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 4B to the Act - 

(a) personal care and attendance;

(b) personal communication needs;

(c) mobility;

(d) domestic help;

(e) medical aids where these cannot be provided under the health service;

(f) heating;

(g) clothing;

(h) laundry requirements;

(i) payments for food essential to comply with a diet recommended by a medical practitioner;

(j) adaptations required to the non-resident parent's home;

(k) day care;

(l) rehabilitation; or

(m) respite care.

    (2) For the purposes of this regulation and regulation 10 - 

(a) a person is "disabled" for a period in respect of which - 


(i) either an attendance allowance, disability living allowance or a mobility supplement is paid to or in respect of him;

(ii) he would receive an attendance allowance or disability living allowance if it were not for the fact that he is a patient, though remaining part of the applicant's family; or

(iii) he is registered blind or treated as blind within the meaning of paragraph 12(1)(a)(iii) and (2) of Schedule 2 to the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987[8];



and for this purpose - 



(i) "attendance allowance" means an allowance payable under section 64 of the Contributions and Benefits Act or an increase of disablement pension under section 104 of that Act, or an award under article 14 of the Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc., (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 1983[9] or any analogous allowance payable in conjunction with any other war disablement pension within the meaning of section 150(2) of the Contributions and Benefits Act;

(ii) "disability living allowance" means an allowance payable under section 72 of the Contributions and Benefits Act;

(iii) "mobility supplement" means an award under article 26A of the Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc., (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 1983 or any analogous allowance payable in conjunction with any other war disablement pension within the meaning of section 150(2) of the Contributions and Benefits Act; and

(iv) "patient" means a person (other than a person who is serving a sentence of imprisonment or detention in a young offenders institution within the meaning of the Criminal Justice Act 1982[10]) who is regarded as receiving free in-patient treatment within the meaning of the Social Security (Hospital In-Patients) Regulations 1975[11];



(b) "the health service" has the same meaning as in section 128 of the National Health Service Act 1977[12] or in section 108(1) of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978[13];

(c) "long-term illness" means an illness from which the non-resident parent or child is suffering at the date of the application or the date from which the variation, if agreed, would take effect and which is likely to last for at least 52 weeks from that date, or, if likely to be shorter than 52 weeks, for the remainder of the life of that person; and

(d) "relevant other child" has the meaning given in paragraph 10C(2) of Schedule 1 to the Act and Regulations made under that paragraph.

    (3) Where the non-resident parent has, at the date he makes the variation application, received, or at that date is in receipt of, or where he will receive any financial assistance from any source in respect of the long-term illness or disability of the relevant other child or a disability living allowance is received by the non-resident parent on behalf of the relevant other child, only the net amount of the costs incurred in respect of the items listed in paragraph (1), after the deduction of the financial assistance or the amount of the allowance, shall constitute special expenses for the purposes of paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 4B to the Act.

Special expenses - prior debts
     12.  - (1) Subject to the following paragraphs of this regulation and regulation 15, the repayment of debts to which paragraph (2) applies shall constitute expenses for the purposes of paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 4B to the Act where those debts were incurred - 

(a) before the non-resident parent became a non-resident parent in relation to the qualifying child; and

(b) at the time when the non-resident parent and the person with care in relation to the child referred to in sub-paragraph (a) were a couple.

    (2) This paragraph applies to debts incurred - 

(a) for the joint benefit of the non-resident parent and the person with care;

(b) for the benefit of the person with care where the non-resident parent remains legally liable to repay the whole or part of the debt;

(c) for the benefit of any person who is not a child but who at the time the debt was incurred - 


(i) was a child;

(ii) lived with the non-resident parent and the person with care; and

(iii) of whom the non-resident parent or the person with care is the parent, or both are the parents;



(d) for the benefit of the qualifying child referred to in paragraph (1); or

(e) for the benefit of any child, other than the qualifying child referred to in paragraph (1), who, at the time the debt was incurred - 



(i) lived with the non-resident parent and the person with care; and

(ii) of whom the person with care is the parent.

    (3) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to repayment of - 

(a) a debt which would otherwise fall within paragraph (1) where the non-resident parent has retained for his own use and benefit the asset in connection with the purchase of which he incurred the debt;

(b) a debt incurred for the purposes of any trade or business;

(c) a gambling debt;

(d) a fine imposed on the non-resident parent;

(e) unpaid legal costs in respect of separation or divorce from the person with care;

(f) amounts due after use of a credit card;

(g) a debt incurred by the non-resident parent to pay any of the items listed in sub-paragraphs (c) to (f) and (j);

(h) amounts payable by the non-resident parent under a mortgage or loan taken out on the security of any property except where that mortgage or loan was taken out to facilitate the purchase of, or to pay for repairs or improvements to, any property which is the home of the person with care and any qualifying child;

(i) amounts payable by the non-resident parent in respect of a policy of insurance except where that policy of insurance was obtained or retained to discharge a mortgage or charge taken out to facilitate the purchase of, or to pay for repairs or improvements to, any property which is the home of the person with care and the qualifying child;

(j) a bank overdraft except where the overdraft was at the time it was taken out agreed to be for a specified amount repayable over a specified period;

(k) a loan obtained by the non-resident parent other than a loan obtained from a qualifying lender or the non-resident parent's current or former employer;

(l) a debt in respect of which a variation has previously been agreed and which has not been repaid during the period for which the maintenance calculation which took account of the variation was in force; or

(m) any other debt which the Secretary of State is satisfied it is reasonable to exclude.

    (4) Except where the repayment is of an amount which is payable under a mortgage or loan or in respect of a policy of insurance which falls within the exception set out in sub-paragraph (h) or (i) of paragraph (3), repayment of a debt shall not constitute expenses for the purposes of paragraph (1) where the Secretary of State is satisfied that the non-resident parent has taken responsibility for repayment of that debt as, or as part of, a financial settlement with the person with care or by virtue of a court order.

    (5) Where an applicant has incurred a debt partly to repay a debt repayment of which would have fallen within paragraph (1), the repayment of that part of the debt incurred which is referable to the debt repayment of which would have fallen within that paragraph shall constitute expenses for the purposes of paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 4B to the Act.

    (6) For the purposes of this regulation and regulation 14 - 

(a) "qualifying lender" has the meaning given to it in section 376(4) of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988[14]; and

(b) "repairs or improvements" means major repairs necessary to maintain the fabric of the home and any of the following measures - 


(i) installation of a fixed bath, shower, wash basin or lavatory, and necessary associated plumbing;

(ii) damp-proofing measures;

(iii) provision or improvement of ventilation and natural light;

(iv) provision of electric lighting and sockets;

(v) provision or improvement of drainage facilities;

(vi) improvement of the structural condition of the home;

(vii) improvements to the facilities for the storing, preparation and cooking of food;

(viii) provision of heating, including central heating;

(ix) provision of storage facilities for fuel and refuse;

(x) improvements to the insulation of the home; or

(xi) other improvements which the Secretary of State considers reasonable in the circumstances.

Special expenses - boarding school fees
     13.  - (1) Subject to the following paragraphs of this regulation and regulation 15, the maintenance element of the costs, incurred or reasonably expected to be incurred, by the non-resident parent for the purpose of the attendance at a boarding school of the qualifying child shall constitute expenses for the purposes of paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 4B to the Act.

    (2) Where the Secretary of State considers that the costs referred to in paragraph (1) cannot be distinguished with reasonable certainty from other costs incurred in connection with the attendance at boarding school by the qualifying child, he may instead determine the amount of those costs and any such determination shall not exceed 35% of the total costs.

    (3) Where - 

(a) the non-resident parent has at the date the variation application is made, received, or at that date is in receipt of, financial assistance from any source in respect of the boarding school fees; or

(b) the boarding school fees are being paid in part by the non-resident parent and in part by another person,

a portion of the costs incurred by the non-resident parent in respect of the boarding school fees shall constitute special expenses for the purposes of paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 4B to the Act being the same proportion as the maintenance element of the costs bears to the total amount of the costs.

    (4) No variation on this ground shall reduce by more than 50% the income to which the Secretary of State would otherwise have had regard in the calculation of maintenance liability.

    (5) For the purposes of this regulation, "boarding school fees" means the fees payable in respect of attendance at a recognised educational establishment providing full-time education which is not advanced education for children under the age of 19 and where some or all of the pupils, including the qualifying child, are resident during term time.

Special expenses - payments in respect of certain mortgages, loans or insurance policies
     14.  - (1) Subject to regulation 15, the payments to which paragraph (2) applies shall constitute expenses for the purposes of paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 4B to the Act.

    (2) This paragraph applies to payments, whether made to the mortgagee, lender, insurer or the person with care - 

(a) in respect of a mortgage or loan where - 


(i) the mortgage or loan was taken out to facilitate the purchase of, or repairs or improvements to, a property ("the property") by a person other than the non-resident parent;

(ii) the payments are not made under a debt incurred by the non-resident parent or do not arise out of any other legal liability of his for the period in respect of which the variation is applied for;

(iii) the property was the home of the applicant and the person with care when they were a couple and remains the home of the person with care and the qualifying child; and

(iv) the non-resident parent has no legal or equitable interest in and no charge or right to have a charge over the property; or



(b) of amounts payable in respect of a policy of insurance taken out for the discharge of a mortgage or loan referred to in sub-paragraph (a), including an endowment policy, except where the non-resident parent is entitled to any part of the proceeds on the maturity of that policy.

Thresholds for and reduction of amount of special expenses
     15.  - (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (4), the costs or repayments referred to in regulations 10 and 12 to 14 shall be special expenses for the purposes of paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 4B to the Act where and to the extent that they exceed the threshold amount, which is - 

(a) £15 per week where the expenses fall within only one description of expenses and, where the expenses fall within more than one description of expenses, £15 per week in respect of the aggregate of those expenses, where the relevant net weekly income of the non-resident parent is £200 or more; or

(b) £10 per week where the expenses fall within only one description of expenses, and, where the expenses fall within more than one description of expenses, £10 per week in respect of the aggregate of those expenses, where the relevant net weekly income is below £200.

    (2) Subject to paragraph (3), where the Secretary of State considers any expenses referred to in regulations 10 to 14 to be unreasonably high or to have been unreasonably incurred he may substitute such lower amount as he considers reasonable, including an amount which is below the threshold amount or a nil amount.

    (3) Any lower amount substituted by the Secretary of State under paragraph (2) in relation to contact costs under regulation 10 shall not be so low as to make it impossible, in the Secretary of State's opinion, for contact between the non-resident parent and the qualifying child to be maintained at the frequency specified in any court order made in respect of the non-resident parent and that child where the non-resident parent is maintaining contact at that frequency.

    (4) For the purposes of this regulation, "relevant net weekly income" means the net weekly income taken into account for the purposes of the maintenance calculation before taking account of any variation on the grounds of special expenses.

    (2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), for the purposes of paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 4B to the Act, a transfer of property is a transfer by the non-resident parent of his beneficial interest in any asset to the person with care, to the qualifying child, or to trustees where the object or one of the objects of the trust is the provision of maintenance.

    (3) Where a transfer of property would not have fallen within paragraph (2) when made but the Secretary of State is satisfied that some or all of the amount of that property was subsequently transferred to the person currently with care of the qualifying child, the transfer of that property to the person currently with care shall constitute a transfer of property for the purposes of paragraph 3 of Schedule 4B to the Act.

    (4) The minimum value for the purposes of paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 4B to the Act is the threshold amount which is £5000.

Value of a transfer of property - equivalent weekly value
     17.  - (1) Where the conditions specified in paragraph 3 of Schedule 4B to the Act are satisfied, the value of a transfer of property for the purposes of that paragraph shall be that part of the transfer made by the non-resident parent (making allowances for any transfer by the person with care to the non-resident parent) which the Secretary of State is satisfied is in lieu of periodical payments of maintenance.

    (2) The Secretary of State shall, in determining the value of a transfer of property in accordance with paragraph (1), assume that, unless evidence to the contrary is provided to him - 

(a) the person with care and the non-resident parent had equal beneficial interests in the asset in relation to which the court order or agreement was made;

(b) where the person with care was married to the non-resident parent, one half of the value of the transfer was a transfer for the benefit of the person with care; and

(c) where the person with care has never been married to the non-resident parent, none of the value of the transfer was for the benefit of the person with care.

    (3) The equivalent weekly value of a transfer of property shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Schedule.

    (4) For the purposes of regulation 16 and this regulation, the term "maintenance" means the normal day-to-day living expenses of the qualifying child.

    (5) A variation falling within paragraph (1) shall cease to have effect at the end of the number of years of liability, as defined in paragraph 1 of the Schedule, for the case in question.

(a) money, whether in cash or on deposit, including any which, in Scotland, is monies due or an obligation owed, whether immediately payable or otherwise and whether the payment or obligation is secured or not and the Secretary of State is satisfied that requiring payment of the monies or implementation of the obligation would be reasonable;

(b) a legal estate or beneficial interest in land and rights in or over land;

(c) shares as defined in section 744 of the Companies Act 1985[15], stock and unit trusts as defined in section 6 of the Charging Orders Act 1979[16], gilt-edged securities as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992[17], and other similar financial instruments; or

(d) a chose in action which has not been enforced when the Secretary of State is satisfied that such enforcement would be reasonable,

and includes any such asset located outside Great Britain.

    (3) Paragraph (2) shall not apply - 

(a) where the total value of the assets referred to in that paragraph does not exceed £65,000 after deduction of the amount owing under any mortgage or charge on those assets;

(b) in relation to any asset which the Secretary of State is satisfied is being retained by the non-resident parent to be used for a purpose which the Secretary of State considers reasonable in all the circumstances of the case;

(c) to any asset received by the non-resident parent as compensation for personal injury suffered by him;

(d) to any asset used in the course of a trade or business; or

(e) to property which is the home of the non-resident parent or any child of his.

    (4) For the purposes of this regulation, where any asset is held in the joint names of the non-resident parent and another person the Secretary of State shall assume, unless evidence to the contrary is provided to him, that the asset is held by them in equal shares.

    (5) Where a variation is agreed on the ground that the non-resident parent has assets for which provision is made in this regulation, the Secretary of State shall calculate the weekly value of the assets by applying the statutory rate of interest to the value of the assets and dividing by 52, and the resulting figure, aggregated with any benefit, pension or allowance which the non-resident parent receives, other than any benefits referred to in regulation 26(3), shall be taken into account as additional income under regulation 25.

    (6) For the purposes of this regulation, the "statutory rate of interest" means interest at the statutory rate prescribed for a judgment debt or, in Scotland, the statutory rate in respect of interest included in or payable under a decree in the Court of Session, which in either case applies on the date from which the maintenance calculation which takes account of the variation takes effect.

Income not taken into account and diversion of income
     19.  - (1) Subject to paragraph (2), a case shall constitute a case for the purposes of paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 4B to the Act where - 

(a) the non-resident parent's liability to pay child support maintenance under the maintenance calculation which is in force or has been applied for or treated as applied for, is, or would be, as the case may be - 


(i) the nil rate owing to the application of paragraph 5(a) of Schedule 1 to the Act; or

(ii) a flat rate, owing to the application of paragraph 4(1)(b) of Schedule 1 to the Act, or would be a flat rate but is less than that amount, or nil, owing to the application of paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 to the Act; and



(b) the Secretary of State is satisfied that the non-resident parent is in receipt of income which would fall to be taken into account under the Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases Regulations but for the application to the non-resident parent of paragraph 4(1)(b) or 5(a) of Schedule 1 to the Act.

    (2) Paragraph (1) shall apply where the income referred to in sub-paragraph (b) of that paragraph is a net weekly income of over £100.

    (3) Net weekly income for the purposes of paragraph (2), in relation to earned income of a non-resident parent who is a student, shall be calculated by aggregating the income for the year ending with the relevant week (which for this purpose shall have the meaning given in the Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases Regulations) and dividing by 52, or, where the Secretary of State does not consider the result to be representative of the student's earned income, over such other period as he shall consider representative and dividing by the number of weeks in that period.

    (4) A case shall constitute a case for the purposes of paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 4B to the Act where - 

(a) the non-resident parent has the ability to control the amount of income he receives, including earnings from employment or self-employment, whether or not the whole of that income is derived from the company or business from which his earnings are derived, and

(b) the Secretary of State is satisfied that the non-resident parent has unreasonably reduced the amount of his income which would otherwise fall to be taken into account under the Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases Regulations by diverting it to other persons or for purposes other than the provision of such income for himself in order to reduce his liability to pay child support maintenance.

    (5) Where a variation on this ground is agreed to - 

(a) in a case to which paragraph (1) applies, the additional income taken into account under regulation 25 shall be the whole of the income referred to in paragraph (1)(b), aggregated with any benefit, pension or allowance which the non-resident parent receives other than any benefits referred to in regulation 26(3); and

(b) in a case to which paragraph (4) applies, the additional income taken into account under regulation 25 shall be the whole of the amount by which the Secretary of State is satisfied the non-resident parent has unreasonably reduced his income.

Life-style inconsistent with declared income
     20.  - (1) Subject to paragraph (3), a case shall constitute a case for the purposes of paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 4B to the Act where - 

(a) the non-resident parent's liability to pay child support maintenance under the maintenance calculation which is in force, or which has been applied for or treated as applied for, is, or would be, as the case may be - 


(i) the basic rate,

(ii) the reduced rate,

(iii) a flat rate owing to the application of paragraph 4(1)(a) of Schedule 1 to the Act, including where the net weekly income of the non-resident parent taken into account for the purposes of the maintenance calculation is, or would be, £100 per week or less owing to a variation being taken into account, or to the application of regulation 18, 19 or 21 of the Transitional Regulations (deduction for relevant departure direction or relevant property transfer);

(iv) £5 per week or such other amount as may be prescribed owing to the application of paragraph 7(7) of Schedule 1 to the Act (shared care);

(v) equivalent to the flat rate provided for in, or prescribed for the purposes of, paragraph 4(1)(b) of Schedule 1 to the Act owing to the application of - 


(aa) regulation 27(5);

(bb) regulation 9 of the Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases Regulations (care provided in part by a local authority); or

(cc) regulation 23(5) of the Transitional Regulations; or



(vi) the nil rate owing to the application of paragraph 5(b) of Schedule 1 to the Act; and



(b) the Secretary of State is satisfied that the income which has been, or would be, taken into account for the purposes of the maintenance calculation is substantially lower than the level of income required to support the overall life-style of the non-resident parent.

    (2) Subject to paragraph (4), a case shall constitute a case for the purposes of paragraph 4(1) of Schedule 4B to the Act where the non-resident parent's liability to pay child support maintenance under the maintenance calculation which is in force, or which has been applied for or treated as applied for, is, or would be, as the case may be - 

(a) a flat rate owing to the application of paragraph 4(1)(b) of Schedule 1 to the Act, or would be a flat rate but is less than that amount, or nil, owing to the application of paragraph 8 of Schedule 1 to the Act; or

(b) the nil rate owing to the application of paragraph 5(a) of Schedule 1 to the Act,

and the Secretary of State is satisfied that the income which would otherwise be taken into account for the purposes of the maintenance calculation is substantially lower than the level of income required to support the overall life-style of the non-resident parent.

    (3) Paragraph (1) shall not apply where the Secretary of State is satisfied that the life-style of the non-resident parent is paid for from - 

(a) income which is or would be disregarded for the purposes of a maintenance calculation under the Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases Regulations;

(b) income which falls to be considered under regulation 19(4) (diversion of income);

(c) assets as defined for the purposes of regulation 18, or income derived from those assets;

(d) the income of any partner of the non-resident parent, except where the non-resident parent is able to influence or control the amount of income received by that partner; or

(e) assets as defined for the purposes of regulation 18 of any partner of the non-resident parent, or any income derived from such assets, except where the non-resident parent is able to influence or control the assets, their use, or income derived from them.

    (4) Paragraph (2) shall not apply where the Secretary of State is satisfied that the life-style of the non-resident parent is paid for - 

(a) from a source referred to in paragraph (3);

(b) from net weekly income of £100 or less; or

(c) from income which falls to be considered under regulation 19(1).

    (5) Where a variation on this ground is agreed to, the additional income taken into account under regulation 25 shall be the difference between the income which the Secretary of State is satisfied the non-resident parent requires to support his overall life-style and the income which has been or, but for the application of paragraph 4(1)(b) or 5(a) of Schedule 1 to the Act, would be taken into account for the purposes of the maintenance calculation, aggregated with any benefit, pension or allowance which the non-resident parent receives other than any benefits referred to in regulation 26(3).

    (2) Where the ground for the variation applied for under section 28A(3) of the Act is a ground in regulation 12 (prior debts) or 14 (special expenses - payments in respect of certain mortgages, loans or insurance policies) and payments falling within regulation 12 or 14 which have been made by the non-resident parent constitute voluntary payments for the purposes of section 28J of the Act and Regulations made under that section, the date from which the maintenance calculation shall take account of the variation on this ground shall be the date on which the maintenance period begins which immediately follows the date on which the non-resident parent is notified under the Maintenance Calculation Procedure Regulations of the amount of his liability to pay child support maintenance.

    (3) Where the ground for the variation applied for under section 28A(3) of the Act has ceased to exist by the date the maintenance calculation is made, that calculation shall take account of the variation for the period ending on the last day of the maintenance period in which the ground existed.

Effect on maintenance calculation - special expenses
     23.  - (1) Subject to paragraph (2) and regulations 26 and 27, where the variation agreed to is one falling within regulation 10 to 14 (special expenses) effect shall be given to the variation in the maintenance calculation by deducting from the net weekly income of the non-resident parent the weekly amount of those expenses.

    (2) Where the income which is taken into account in the maintenance calculation is the capped amount and the variation agreed to is one falling within regulation 10 to 14 then - 

(a) the weekly amount of the expenses shall first be deducted from the actual net weekly income of the non-resident parent;

(b) the amount by the which the capped amount exceeds the figure calculated under sub-paragraph (a) shall be calculated; and

(c) effect shall be given to the variation in the maintenance calculation by deducting from the capped amount the amount calculated under sub-paragraph (b).

Effect on maintenance calculation - property or capital transfer
     24. Subject to regulation 27, where the variation agreed to is one falling within regulation 16 (property or capital transfers) - 

(a) the maintenance calculation shall be carried out in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Act and Regulations made under that Part; and

(b) the equivalent weekly value of the transfer calculated as provided in regulation 17 shall be deducted from the amount of child support maintenance which he would otherwise be liable to pay to the person with care with respect to whom the transfer was made.

Effect on maintenance calculation - additional cases
     25. Subject to regulations 26 and 27, where the variation agreed to is one falling within regulations 18 to 20 (additional cases), effect shall be given to the variation in the maintenance calculation by increasing the net weekly income of the non-resident parent which would otherwise be taken into account by the weekly amount of the additional income except that, where the amount of net weekly income calculated in this way would exceed the capped amount, the amount of net weekly income taken into account shall be the capped amount.

Effect on maintenance calculation - maximum amount payable where the variation is on additional cases ground
     26.  - (1) Subject to regulation 27, where this regulation applies the amount of child support maintenance which the non-resident parent shall be liable to pay shall be whichever is the lesser of - 

(a) a weekly amount calculated by aggregating an amount equivalent to the flat rate stated in or prescribed for the purposes of paragraph 4(1)(b) of Schedule 1 to the Act with the amount calculated by applying that Schedule to the Act to the additional income arising under the variation, other than the weekly amount of any benefit, pension or allowance the non-resident parent receives which is prescribed for the purposes of that paragraph; or

(b) a weekly amount calculated by applying Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Act to the additional income arising under the variation.

    (2) This regulation applies where the variation agreed to is one to which regulation 25 applies and the non-resident parent's liability calculated as provided in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Act and Regulations made under that Schedule would, but for the variation, be - 

(a) a flat rate under paragraph 4(1)(b) of that Schedule;

(b) a flat rate but is less than that amount or nil, owing to the application of paragraph 8 of that Schedule; or

(c) a flat rate under paragraph 4(1)(b) of that Schedule but for the application of paragraph 5(a) of that Schedule.

    (3) For the purposes of paragraph (1) - 

(a) any benefit, pension or allowance taken into account in the additional income referred to in sub-paragraph (b) shall not include - 


(i) in the case of industrial injuries benefit under section 94 of the Contributions and Benefits Act, any increase in that benefit under section 104 (constant attendance) or 105 (exceptionally severe disablement) of that Act;

(ii) in the case of a war disablement pension within the meaning in section 150(2) of the Contributions and Benefits Act, any award under the following articles of the Naval, Military and Air Forces Etc., (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 1983 ("the Service Pensions Order"): article 14 (constant attendance allowance), 15 (exceptionally severe disablement allowance), 16 (severe disablement occupational allowance) or 26A (mobility supplement)[18] or any analogous allowances payable in conjunction with any other war disablement pension; and

(iii) any award under article 18 of the Service Pensions Order (unemployability allowances) which is an additional allowance in respect of a child of the non-resident parent where that child is not living with the non-resident parent;



(b) "additional income" for the purposes of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) means such income after the application of a variation falling within regulations 10 to 14 (special expenses); and

(c) "weekly amount" for the purposes of sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) means the aggregate of the amounts referred to in the relevant sub-paragraph - 



(i) adjusted as provided in regulation 27(3) as if the reference in that regulation to child support maintenance were to the weekly amount; and

(ii) after any deduction provided for in regulation 27(4) as if the reference in that regulation to child support maintenance were to the weekly amount.

Effect on maintenance calculation - general
     27.  - (1) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), where more than one variation is agreed to in respect of the same period regulations 23 to 26 shall apply and the results shall be aggregated as appropriate.

    (2) Paragraph 7(2) to (7) of Schedule 1 to the Act (shared care) shall apply where the rate of child support maintenance is affected by a variation which is agreed to and paragraph 7(2) shall be read as if after the words "as calculated in accordance with the preceding paragraphs of this Part of this Schedule" there were inserted the words ", Schedule 4B and Regulations made under that Schedule".

    (3) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5), where the non-resident parent shares the care of a qualifying child within the meaning in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Act, or where the care of such a child is shared in part by a local authority, the amount of child support maintenance the non-resident parent is liable to pay the person with care, calculated to take account of any variation, shall be reduced in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 7 of that Part or regulation 9 of the Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases Regulations, as the case may be.

    (4) Subject to paragraph (5), where the variation agreed to is one falling within regulation 16 (property or capital transfers) the equivalent weekly value of the transfer calculated as provided in regulation 17 shall be deducted from the amount of child support maintenance the non-resident parent would otherwise be liable to pay the person with care in respect of whom the transfer was made after aggregation of the effects of any other variations as provided in paragraph (1) or deduction for shared care as provided in paragraph (3).

    (5) If the application of regulation 24, or paragraph (3) or (4), would decrease the weekly amount of child support maintenance (or the aggregate of all such amounts) payable by the non-resident parent to the person with care (or all of them) to less than a figure equivalent to the flat rate of child support maintenance payable under paragraph 4(1)(b) of Schedule 1 to the Act, he shall instead be liable to pay child support maintenance at a rate equivalent to that rate apportioned (if appropriate) as provided in paragraph 6 of Schedule 1 to the Act.

    (6) The effect of a variation shall not be applied for any period during which a circumstance referred to in regulation 7 applies.

    (7) For the purposes of regulations 23 and 25 "net weekly income" means as calculated or estimated under the Maintenance Calculations and Special Cases Regulations.

Transitional provisions - conversion decisions
     28. Where the variation is being applied for in connection with a subsequent decision within the meaning given in the Transitional Regulations, and the decision to be revised or superseded under section 16 or 17 of the Act, as the case may be, takes into account a relevant property transfer as defined and provided for in those Regulations - 

(a) for the purposes of regulations 23 and 25 "capped amount" shall mean the income for the purposes of paragraph 10(3) of Schedule 1 to the Act less any deduction in respect of the relevant property transfer;

(b) for the purposes of regulation 26(3)(b) the additional income for the purposes of paragraph (1) of that regulation shall be after deduction in respect of the relevant property transfer;

(c) regulation 27(4) shall be read as if the aggregation referred to included any deduction in respect of the relevant property transfer; and

(d) regulation 27(5) shall be read as if after the reference to paragraph (3) or (4) there were a reference to any deduction in respect of the relevant property transfer.

Situations in which a variation previously agreed to may be taken into account in calculating maintenance liability
     29.  - (1) This regulation applies where a variation has been agreed to in relation to a maintenance calculation.

    (2) In the circumstances set out in paragraph (3), the Secretary of State may take account of the effect of such a variation upon the rate of liability for child support maintenance notwithstanding the fact that an application has not been made.

    (3) The circumstances are - 

(a) that the decision as to the maintenance calculation is superseded under section 17 of the Act on a change of circumstances so that the non-resident parent becomes liable to pay child support maintenance at the nil rate, or another rate which means that the variation cannot be taken into account; and

(b) that the superseding decision referred to in sub-paragraph (a) is itself superseded under section 17 of the Act on a change of circumstances so that the non-resident parent becomes liable to pay a rate of child support maintenance which can be adjusted to take account of the variation.

Circumstances for the purposes of section 28F(3) of the Act
     30. The circumstances prescribed for the purposes of section 28F(3) of the Act (Secretary of State shall not agree to a variation) are - 

(a) the prescribed circumstances in regulation 6(2) or 7; and

(b) where the Secretary of State considers it would not be just and equitable to agree to the variation having regard to any of the factors referred to in regulation 21.

(a) an application was made and not determined for - 


(i) a maintenance assessement;

(ii) a departure direction; or

(iii) a revision or supersession of a decision;



(b) the Secretary of State had begun but not completed a revision or supersession of a decision on his own initiative;

(c) any time limit provided for in Regulations for making an application for a revision or a departure direction had not expired; or

(d) any appeal was made but not decided or any time limit for making an appeal had not expired,

the provisions of the Child Support Departure Direction and Consequential Amendments Regulations 1996[20] shall continue to apply for the purposes of - 

(aa) the decision on the application referred to in sub-paragraph (a);

(bb) the revision or supersession referred to in sub-paragraph (b);

(cc) the ability to apply for the revision or the departure direction referred to in sub-paragraph (c) and the decision whether to revise or to give a departure direction following any such application;

(dd) any appeal outstanding or made during the time limit referred to in sub-paragraph (d); or

(ee) any revision, supersession or appeal or application for a departure direction in relation to a decision, ability to apply or appeal referred to in sub-paragraphs (aa) to (dd).

    (3) Where, after the commencement date, a decision with respect to a departure direction is revised from a date which is prior to the commencement date, the provisions of the Child Support Departure Direction and Consequential Amendments Regulations 1996 shall continue to apply for the purposes of that revision.

    (4) Where, under regulation 28(1) of the Transitional Regulations, an application for a maintenance calculation is treated as an application for a maintenance assessment, the provisions of the Child Support Departure Direction and Consequential Amendments Regulations 1996 shall continue to apply for the purposes of an application for a departure direction in relation to any such assessment made.

    (5) For the purposes of this regulation - 

(a) "departure direction" and "maintenance assessment" means as provided in section 54 of the Act before its amendment by the 2000 Act;

(b) "revision or supersession" means a revision or supersession of a decision under section 16 or 17 of the Act before its amendment by the 2000 Act and "any time limit for making an application for a revision" means any time limit provided for in Regulations made under section 16 of the Act; and

(c) "2000 Act" means the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Social Security


P. Hollis
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security

18th January 2001

[2] Section 28A, 28B, 28C and 28F and Schedules 4A and 4B are substituted by section 5 of, and Schedule 2 to, the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 c. 19. Section 28E was inserted by the Child Support Act 1995 c. 34 and is amended by section 5 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000. Section 54 is cited because of the meaning assigned to the word "prescribed" and Schedule 4A paragraph 1 is cited because of the meaning assigned to the word "regulations".back

[3] 1992 c. 4.back

[4] S.I. 2001/157.back

[5] S.I. 2001/155.back

[6] S.I. 2000/3186.back

[7] Sections 128 and 129 were amended by section 1(2) of Schedule 1 to the Tax Credits Act 1999 (c. 10).back

[8] S.I. 1987/1967.back

[9] S.I. 1983/883.back

[10] 1982 c. 48. The Act is amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1988 c. 33.back

[11] S.I. 1975/555. Relevant amendments are made by S.I. 1992/2595 and 1999/1326.back

[12] 1977 c. 49.back

[13] 1978 c. 29.back

[14] 1988 c. 1.back

[15] 1985 c. 6.back

[16] 1979 c. 53.back

[17] 1992 c. 12.back

[18] S.I. 1983/883. Article 26A was inserted by article 4 of S.I. 1983/1116 and amended by S.I. 1983/1821, 1986/592, 1990/1308, 1991/766, 1992/710, 1995/766 and 1997/286.back

[19] S.I. 1996/2907.back

[20] S.I. 1996/2907.back

 © Crown copyright 2001