The contribution formula sets out how financial responsibility is calculated in a consent-based system. It is simple, predictable, and rooted in consent — aligning legal and financial obligations with agreed intent and caregiving reality, where no Parental Responsibility Agreement (PRA) has set out alternative arrangements.
✅ What Is It?
A streamlined system of calculating child support based on:
- Income bands
- Number of children
- Caregiving duration
- Proven abuse (where applicable)
It replaces coercive enforcement with clarity, fairness, and shared responsibility.
📝 How It Works
If a Declaration of Intent to Parent has been made but a Parental Responsibility Agreement (PRA) has not been completed, the contributor is still legally responsible and will pay standard base contribution rates — unless the court determines that additional support (e.g. for caregiving or abuse) is warranted.
Contribution Bands
| Income Band (Net Monthly) | 1 Child | 2 Children | 3+ Children |
| Under £1,000 | £50 | £90 (£50 + £40) | £120 (£50 + £40 + £30) |
| £1,000–£1,999 | £100 | £180 (£100 + £80) | £240 (£100 + £80 + £60) |
| £2,000–£2,999 | £150 | £270 (£150 + £120) | £360 (£150 + £120 + £90) |
| £3,000+ | £200 | £360 (£200 + £160) | £480 (£200 + £160 + £120) |
- Reductions
– 2nd child: 20% reduction from the base
– 3rd child: 40% reduction from the base - Abuse Tier If a contributor has been criminally charged or found by a court to have committed abuse, their financial contribution increases by 50% across all income bands. This reflects the additional burden often placed on the receiving parent and child in the aftermath of abuse — while ensuring accountability where consent, safety, and trust have been violated. A contributor in the £2,000–£2,999 band (standard rate: £150/month 1 child) would contribute £225/month under the abuse tier.
Caregiving Contribution Uplift
Uplift for High Earners & Caregiving Sacrifices
Where income exceeds £3,000/month and a Parental Responsibility Agreement (PRA) confirms that one parent has made a significant caregiving commitment (e.g. reduced or paused career), an uplift is applied to reflect that contribution.
| Years of Caregiving | Uplift Level |
|---|---|
| 3–5 years | 25% |
| 6–8 years | 50% |
| 9–11 years | 75% |
| 12+ years | 100% |
Formula: Uplift = 25% of Excess Income × Caregiving Uplift Percentage
This ensures greater fairness where one parent has borne more of the day-to-day responsibility and opportunity cost.
⚖️ Why It Matters
- Reflects fairness without punishing success
- Rewards sustained caregiving without defaulting to lifelong maintenance
- Keeps contributions linked to actual income
- Preserves incentives for contributors to formalise terms via PRAs
- Simple and predictable — no complex litigation required
- Distinguishes genuine long-term caregiving from opportunistic short-term claims
💡 Real Impact
Under the current system, someone can be charged arbitrary amounts based on outdated assumptions or administrative misjudgements. This formula respects what was agreed — and adjusts based on reality, not bureaucracy.