Do Basic Child Support Amounts Include Day Care Costs?

Child support is established by the court system to ensure that both parents take financial responsibility in raising their child. Although the laws enforcing and establishing child support amounts do vary from one state to another, the basic child support calculation -- no matter where you live -- does not include child care costs. That doesn't mean, however, that the courts overlook such an important part of child rearing costs for which each parent must provide.

  1. What is Included in Basic Support Calculations?

    • Basic child support obligations, from Washington State to North Carolina, cover the basic needs of the child -- food, shelter, clothing and health care. Although each state may have slight variations in its child support laws, these four things are the common goals of the support payment amounts and schedules. Thus, the basic child support does not include day care, but it does include calculations for things like food, clothing for the growing child, a place to live and health care costs, according to the Washington Law Help Organization. Some states may add transportation and education, but the basic costs cover the basic human needs.

    Why is Day Care Extra?

    • Because it is not a basic need required by every child, child care is an addition to any child support calculation amount, according to South Carolina Child Support Guidelines publication. The expense is also something that households tend to take on as they can afford it, an expense that also goes up with the amount of money that the parent can afford. For these reasons, the South Carolina child support guidelines add day care costs to the child support amounts after the basic support is calculated.

    Restrictions

    • The only child care costs that are covered by the child support amounts, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services website, is the care needed while the custodial parent is at work, in school or looking for employment. Any additional time is not covered under the amount of money allocated for child support. Using the funds to pay for care outside of these parameters can become a violation of the child support order.

    Other Considerations

    • The child support amount calculations for child care costs are often not an equally divided responsibility. The Pennsylvania Code states that the total child care expense is split between the parents according to their income and not by the amount of time each parent needs the child in care. In fact, the care could be necessary to accommodate only one of the parents' work schedules. Both parents are financially responsible, according to their individual incomes.

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