New York Child Support Add-On Expenses Calculator
Basic child support is only part of the bill. Calculate each parent’s pro-rata share of child care, health insurance, unreimbursed medical, and education under Domestic Relations Law § 240(1-b)(c)(4)–(7).
Estimate only — not legal advice.Step 1 — The two incomes
Step 2 — The add-on expenses
Enter the annual cost of each expense that applies. Leave the rest blank.
Basic support is not the whole bill
New York’s Child Support Standards Act works in two steps, and most parents only hear about the first one. Step one applies a flat percentage to combined parental income to produce the basic obligation. Step two divides a separate list of real-world expenses — the add-ons — pro rata, on top of the basic amount. A parent who has budgeted only for step one is going to be surprised, and it is usually an unpleasant surprise.
Step one: the CSSA percentages
| Number of children | Percentage of combined parental income |
|---|---|
| One child | 17% |
| Two children | 25% |
| Three children | 29% |
| Four children | 31% |
| Five or more children | no less than 35% |
Run this part in our New York child support calculator. The percentages come from DRL § 240(1-b)(b)(3) and Family Court Act § 413.
Step two: the four add-ons
| Add-on | Statute | Mandatory? | How it is divided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child care parent working or in school |
§ 240(1-b)(c)(4) | Yes — court shall | Pro rata, in the same proportion as each parent’s income to combined parental income. |
| Health insurance & unreimbursed medical |
§ 240(1-b)(c)(5) | Yes — court shall | Pro rata. Covers the premium attributable to the children and every out-of-pocket health cost. |
| Child care parent seeking work |
§ 240(1-b)(c)(6) | No — court may | Pro rata, if the court decides to award it. |
| Education college, private school |
§ 240(1-b)(c)(7) | No — court may | Pro rata or as the court directs, “as justice requires,” weighing the parents’ circumstances and the child’s best interests. |
The SUNY cap is a custom, not a statute
You will hear the “SUNY cap” discussed as if it were law. It is not. Nothing in DRL § 240(1-b)(c)(7) mentions the State University of New York. What exists is a widespread judicial and negotiating practice of limiting a parent’s college contribution to what tuition, room, and board would cost at a SUNY school — the theory being that a parent should not be forced to fund a private education they never agreed to. Courts apply it often, and they decline to apply it too, particularly where the parents are affluent, where private education was the family’s established pattern, or where a parent expressly agreed to more. If college matters to you, put the cap — or its absence — in writing in your agreement. Do not rely on the custom.
A worked example
Parent A earns $80,000; Parent B earns $40,000. Combined parental income is $120,000, so the pro-rata shares are 67% and 33%. Day care runs $12,000 a year, the children’s health insurance premium is $3,600, and unreimbursed medical averages $1,800.
- Total add-ons: $12,000 + $3,600 + $1,800 = $17,400 a year.
- Parent A’s share: 67% × $17,400 = $11,600 a year, or about $967 a month.
- Parent B’s share: 33% × $17,400 = $5,800 a year, or about $483 a month.
That $967 a month sits on top of Parent A’s basic obligation under the 17%/25% table. It is not included in it, and it is not a reduction from it.
Getting reimbursed is its own problem
An order that says each parent pays their pro-rata share of unreimbursed medical is worth very little if it does not also say how. Well-drafted New York agreements specify a deadline for producing the receipt, a deadline for reimbursement, a threshold below which small expenses are absorbed, and a requirement to use in-network providers absent an emergency. Without those terms, you get a decade of arguing over orthodontist bills. Ask for them.
Related: Basic child support calculator · Child support in New York · Can I modify my order? · College expenses after divorce · Buffalo family law attorney
Disclaimer: This calculator prorates add-on expenses under New York Domestic Relations Law § 240(1-b)(c)(4)–(7) using the income figures you enter. It is an estimate for general information only, is not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. CSSA income is a defined term and is not simply your gross pay. Discretionary add-ons may or may not be awarded, courts may allocate education costs other than pro rata, and the SUNY cap is a matter of practice rather than statute. Consult a licensed New York attorney before relying on any figure here. Weinrieb Law — 5555 Main Street, Suite 5, Williamsville, NY 14221 · (716) 759-4529.
Frequently Asked Questions About New York Child Support Add-Ons
What are child support add-ons in New York?
Add-ons are the expenses paid on top of the basic child support amount produced by the CSSA percentage formula. Under Domestic Relations Law § 240(1-b)(c)(4)–(7) they are: child care while the custodial parent works or attends school; health insurance premiums and unreimbursed medical expenses; child care while the custodial parent looks for work; and educational expenses. Each is divided between the parents pro rata — in the same proportion as each parent's income bears to the combined parental income.
How is the pro rata share of add-on expenses calculated?
Divide each parent's income by the combined parental income. If the father earns $80,000 and the mother earns $40,000, the combined income is $120,000, and their pro rata shares are 67% and 33%. Those percentages are then applied to each add-on expense. The same shares that determine the basic support obligation determine the add-ons.
Are child support add-ons mandatory in New York?
Some are, some are not. Child care while the custodial parent is working or in an educational program leading to employment is mandatory — DRL § 240(1-b)(c)(4) says the court 'shall' prorate it. Health insurance premiums and reasonable unreimbursed health care expenses are also mandatory under § 240(1-b)(c)(5). Child care while the custodial parent is merely seeking work (§ 240(1-b)(c)(6)) and educational expenses (§ 240(1-b)(c)(7)) are discretionary — the court 'may' award them 'as justice requires.'
Does child support cover college in New York?
Not automatically. College is a discretionary add-on under DRL § 240(1-b)(c)(7): a court may order a parent to contribute, having regard to the circumstances of the case, the circumstances of the parents, and the best interests of the child. Courts weigh the parents' own educational backgrounds, their financial ability, and the child's academic record. Many New York courts and settlements apply the so-called 'SUNY cap,' limiting a parent's contribution to what the cost would be at a State University of New York school — but the SUNY cap is a matter of judicial practice and negotiation, not a statute, and courts do exceed it.
Who pays for the child's health insurance after a New York divorce?
The cost of adding the children to a health insurance plan is prorated between the parents in the same income proportions as basic support. So is every unreimbursed medical expense — co-pays, deductibles, orthodontia, therapy, prescriptions, eyeglasses. In practice, one parent carries the policy and the other reimburses their pro rata share of the premium attributable to the children, plus their share of the out-of-pocket costs as they arise.
Are add-on expenses included in the basic child support amount?
No — and this is the single most common misunderstanding about New York child support. The CSSA percentages (17% for one child, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four, and at least 35% for five or more) produce the basic obligation only. Child care, health insurance, unreimbursed medical, and education are calculated and paid separately, on top of it. A parent who budgets only for the basic amount is very often surprised.