Overview
Next to earned income, child support has the greatest financial impact on a family with limited income. Child Support Services can help single parents with low incomes to:
- negotiate child support
- get court orders so they can get child support money from the other parent
Your child support worker
Child Support Services recognizes that every family situation is unique. Caring and experienced staff work collaboratively with parents to ensure that their children get the support that they need.
Child support workers:
- will gather information from you and the other parent
- can help locate the other parent
- can confirm paternity through DNA testing if necessary
- will try to negotiate an agreement with the other parent
- will go to court to get an order, if negotiation fails
- may register the agreements and orders with the Maintenance Enforcement Program, which enforces, collects and distributes child support payments
The process and what is expected of parents is different in each situation, but it usually only takes a couple of appointments with a worker to reach an agreement.
Eligibility
You are automatically eligible if you are both:
- a single parent or parent of a blended family, and
- are enrolled in any one of the following programs:
You may also be eligible if:
- there is no existing support order
- the other parent is capable of paying
- your household income meets the income guidelines below
| Family size | Maximum gross yearly household income |
|---|---|
| 2 people | $24,397 |
| 3 people | $29,073 |
| 4 people | $34,056 |
| 5 people | $39,336 |
| 6 people | $43,999 |
| 7 people | $48,662 |
The Canada Child Benefit and Alberta Child Benefit are not counted as part of your income.
How to apply
Call Child Support Services and ask to meet with a Child Support Services Worker.
Phone: 780-415-6400 (Edmonton)
Phone: 403-297-6060 (Calgary)
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)