Parents often disagree on how child support payments should be utilized. Although a court can not dictate how a parent spends child support income, parents should consider using child support to pay the following expenses for school-aged children:
Child Care/Babysitter Expenses
Often, child care expenses represent the largest expense of a single parent's income. A portion of child support income can be used on child care expenses including babysitting and after-school expenses.
Daily Necessities
Parents should also use child support income for the child's daily needs. Daily needs include:
- Clothing
- Food
- Shelter
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses are often a large expense incurred by parents on a regular basis, especially for parents of special needs children. Single parents can use child support to cover expenses such as:
- Medical co-pays
- Prescription costs
- Health insurance deductibles
Sporting Activities
The costs associated with sporting programs for school-aged children can become substantial. Parents should consider using a small percentage of child support income for the following sporting-related expenses:
- Participation/registration costs
- Equipment (uniform and other equipment)
- Costs associated with traveling to distant sporting events
Entertainment
In addition to necessities, children need to be entertained. Single parents of school-age children can use child support income to pay for the child's entertainment needs. Entertainment includes:
- Movies
- Field trips
- Allowance
For more specific information about how to use child support payments for school-aged children, visit your state's child support guidelines or speak with a qualified attorney.