About child support exemptions

If you have an exemption, you do not need to pay child support for as long as the exemption lasts.

Paying (liable) parents can apply for a child support exemption for long-term illness, hospital or a treatment centre, prison, being under 16, or as the victim of a sex offence.

You can get an exemption no matter where you’re living – in New Zealand or overseas.

Hospital, prison or long-term illness

You can apply for a temporary exemption if you’re in hospital, a treatment centre for substance addiction or prison, or you have a long-term illness or injury that stops you from doing paid work.

To apply, your situation needs to last for at least 13 weeks, and your income must be very low.

This means either:

• investment income only, and less than the minimum child support amount for the year (or $10 a week, for a court order or voluntary agreement)
• prison allowance only, and less than the minimum child support amount for the year (or $10 a week, for a court order or voluntary agreement)
• a benefit only, at the hospital rate.

Exemption reviews

The receiving carer can ask us to review your temporary exemption if they think you do not meet the income requirements. We'll contact you if your exemption is going to be reviewed.

Child support rates
Apply for a hospital exemption
Apply for a long-term illness exemption
Apply for a prison exemption
Apply for an exemption review

Young parents - under 16

If you’re under 16, you can apply for a temporary exemption from paying child support.

To get the exemption, your income must be very low – less than the minimum child support amount, and from investment income only.

You can apply for this exemption over the phone. So if you're under 16 years old and not already exempt, please call us.

Contact child support

Victim of a sex offence

If a child was conceived because you were sexually assaulted, you can apply for a permanent exemption from paying child support for that child.

There does not need to have been a conviction for the offence, but you will need to be able to show that an offence took place. For example, a police report or a letter from your doctor.

Apply for a sex offence victim exemption