Child Maintenance Bonus

If you are currently receiving Child Maintenance and also Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, you might be entitled to the Child Maintenance Bonus if you no longer require these benefits because you find work or your earnings increase. If your Child Maintenance claim was processed after 3rd March 2003 you are not entitled to the Child Maintenance Bonus but might qualify for Tax Credits instead. For more information on Tax Credits see Tax Credits.

The Child Maintenance Bonus is a one-off payment of up to £1,000. The exact amount that you receive will depend on how much Child Maintenance you have received whilst you have been receiving benefits. The Child Maintenance Bonus is intended to reward those people who have managed to find work or work longer hours whilst caring for children. Child Maintenance Bonus has no effect on other benefits or tax credits that you are entitled to receive.

You can contact the Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 88 22 00 for information on claiming the Child Maintenance Bonus, or download a claim form from the Department for Work and Pensions website. You must claim the Child Maintenance Bonus within twenty-eight days of your current benefits ending, or you may no longer be entitled to the payment.