Children Act 1989

21 (1) Where a local authority are looking after a child (other than in the cases mentioned in sub-paragraph (7)) they shall consider whether they should recover contributions towards the child’s maintenance from any person liable to contribute (“a contributor"). E+W

(2) An authority may only recover contributions from a contributor if they consider it reasonable to do so.

(3) The persons liable to contribute are—

(a) where the child is under sixteen, each of his parents;

(b) where he has reached the age of sixteen, the child himself.

(4) A parent is not liable to contribute during any period when he is in receipt [F1 of universal credit (except in such circumstances as may be prescribed), ] of income support [F2 under][F3 Part VII of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992,][F4 of any element of child tax credit other than the family element, of working tax credit][F5 [F6 , of an income-based jobseeker's allowance or of an income-related employment and support allowance]].

(5) A person is not liable to contribute towards the maintenance of a child in the care of a local authority in respect of any period during which the child is F7 [living with, under arrangements made by the authority in accordance with section 22C], a parent of his.

(6) A contributor is not obliged to make any contribution towards a child’s maintenance except as agreed or determined in accordance with this Part of this Schedule.

(7) The cases are where the child is looked after by a local authority under—

(a) section 21;

(b) an interim care order;

(c) [F8 section 92 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000] [F9 or section 260 of the Sentencing Code].

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Sch. 2 para. 21(4) inserted (29.4.2013) by Welfare Reform Act 2012 (c. 5), s. 150(3), Sch. 2 para. 1(d); S.I. 2013/983, art. 3(1)(b)(i)

F2 Words in Sch. 2 para. 21(4) substituted (6.4.2003) by 2002 c. 21, ss. 47, 61, Sch. 3 para. 20(a); S.I. 2003/962, art. 2(3)(d)(iii) (subject to transitional savings and provisions in arts. 3 and 4)

F3 Words in Sch. 2 Pt. III para. 21(4) substituted (1.7.1992) by Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Act 1992 (c. 6), ss. 4, 7(2), Sch. 2 para. 108(c)

F4 Words in Sch. 2 para. 21(4) inserted (6.4.2003) by 2002 c. 21, ss. 47, 61, Sch. 3 para. 20(b); S.I. 2003/962, art. 2(3)(d)(iii) (subject to transitional provisions and savings in arts. 3 and 4)

F5 Words in Sch. 2 para. 21(4) added (7.10.1996) by 1995 c. 18, s. 41(4), Sch. 2 para. 19(5); S.I. 1996/2208, art. 2

F6 Words in Sch. 2 para. 21(4) substituted (27.10.2008) by Welfare Reform Act 2007 (c. 5), ss. 28, 70, Sch. 3 para. 6(6); S.I. 2008/787, art. 2(4)(f)

F7 Words in Sch. 2 para. 21(5) substituted (1.4.2011 for E., 6.4.2016 for W.) by Children and Young Persons Act 2008 (c. 23), s. 44(4), Sch. 1 para. 5; S.I. 2010/2981, art. 4(a); S.I. 2016/452, art. 2(b)

F8 Words in Sch. 2 Pt. III para. 21(7)(c) substituted (25.8.2000) by 2000 c. 6, ss. 165(1), 168(1), Sch. 9 para. 130

F9 Words in Sch. 2 para. 21(7)(c) inserted (1.12.2020) by Sentencing Act 2020 (c. 17), s. 416(1), Sch. 24 para. 113 (with Sch. 27); S.I. 2020/1236, reg. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Sch. 2 para. 21: power to apply with modifications or exclude conferred (7.2.2004 for W. and 7.12.2004 for E.) by 2002 c. 38, ss. 53(2)(b), 148 (with Sch. 4 paras. 1, 6-8); S.I. 2004/252, art. 2(b); S.I. 2004/3203, art. 2(1)(h)

C2 Sch. 2 para. 21 excluded (30.12.2005) by: The Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/389), reg. 45(2)(d); The Adoption Agencies (Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1313), reg. 46(2)(d)

C3 Sch. 2 para. 21 excluded (3.12.2012) by The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (Children Act 1989) (Children Remanded to Youth Detention Accommodation) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/2813), regs. 1(1), 2(d), 5

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 2 Pt. III para. 21 wholly in force at 14.10.1991 see s. 108(2)(3) and S.I. 1991/828, art. 3(2)