What are the mandatory add-ons in New York child support?

NY mandates three add-ons: childcare costs for the custodial parent to work, health insurance for children, and unreimbursed medical expenses. These are split proportionally by each parent's income share.

Can New York parents agree to deviate from CSSA guidelines?

Yes, under DRL §240(1-b)(h), if the agreement is in writing, acknowledges the CSSA amount, and states the deviation reason. Courts review below-guideline agreements to ensure children's best interests are protected.

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Q: What is the New York CSSA income cap for 2026?

The 2026 CSSA cap is $163,000 in combined parental income. For income above this cap, courts have discretion to apply CSSA percentages or a different amount based on children's actual needs.

Q: Does New York consider custody time in child support calculations?

Standard NY CSSA calculations do not directly factor custody time. Support is based on income percentages. In true 50/50 custody cases, courts may offset support between parents, but this is not automatic.

Q: How often can New York child support be modified?

NY allows modification when there is substantial change in circumstances, 3 years have passed since the last order, or either parent's income changed by 15% or more. The 15% threshold was added by the Child Support Modernization Act of 2010.

Estimate NY child support under the CSSA: 17% for 1 child, 25% for 2, 29% for 3. 2026 combined income cap: $163,000. Includes add-ons.

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NCP Annual Gross Income

Non-custodial parent's annual income

Custodial Parent Annual Income

Number of Children

NY Guideline Child Support

$1,875/mo

CSSA Percentage25%

Combined Income (Annual)$145,000

NCP Income Share62.1%

NY CSSA rates: 17% (1 child), 25% (2), 29% (3), 31% (4), 35% (5+). Cap applies to combined income over $163,000/yr (2026).

Advanced Calculator

CSSA support by income level bar chart, mandatory add-on comparison, and year-by-year projection to age 21.

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NY CSSA Inputs

NCP Annual Income

CP Annual Income

Children

CSSA Base Support

$2,329/mo base

CSSA Rate25% (2 children)

Capped Income$163,000

NCP Share68.6%

Above-Cap Income$12,000

Income exceeds CSSA cap by $12,000/yr. Court has discretion for above-cap amount (~$171/mo additional).

Monthly CS by NCP Income Level

Children	CSSA Rate	Monthly CS	Annual
1	17%	$1,583/mo	$19,001
2 ← you	25%	$2,329/mo	$27,943
3	29%	$2,701/mo	$32,414
4	31%	$2,887/mo	$34,649
5	35%	$3,260/mo	$39,120

Professional Simulator

Full income breakdown, NY/NYC tax analysis, above-cap discretionary scenarios, college expenses, what-if analysis, and 20-year lifetime projection.

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NCP Income — Total: $120,000/yr

W-2 / Wages

Bonus / Commission

Self-Employment

Other Income

CP Income — Total: $48,000/yr

W-2 / Wages

Bonus / Commission

Children & Add-Ons

Children

Health Insurance/mo

Childcare/mo

Unreimbursed Medical/mo

College Expenses/mo

Deviation Factors

Deviation Type

Custom Deviation %

NY Professional CSSA Analysis

$3,461/mo total

NCP After-Tax

Gross: $120,000/yr

Federal tax: −$18,143

NY state/city: −$10,200

Net after CS: $4,177/mo

Support Breakdown

Base CSSA: $2,426/mo

Health ins.: +$286/mo

Childcare: +$643/mo

Medical: +$107/mo

Total: $3,461/mo

High-Income Case: Combined income $168,000/yr exceeds CSSA cap ($163,000). Court has discretion for $5,000 above-cap income.

How New York Child Support Works

New York calculates child support under the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA), enacted in 1989. The formula applies a percentage to the combined parental income up to a statutory cap, then allocates the non-custodial parent's share based on their proportional income.

CSSA Percentages

1 child: 17% of combined parental income
2 children: 25%
3 children: 29%
4 children: 31%
5 or more children: 35%

Income Cap (2026)

The CSSA cap for 2026 is $163,000 in combined parental income. For income above this cap, courts have discretion to apply the percentages or a different amount based on the children's actual needs and the parents' ability to pay. The cap is adjusted periodically.

Step 1: Combined Income = NCP Income + Custodial Income (up to $163,000 cap)
Step 2: Basic Obligation = Combined Income × CSSA %
Step 3: NCP Share = NCP Income ÷ Combined Income
Step 4: NCP Monthly Support = (Basic Obligation × NCP Share) ÷ 12
Step 5: Add NCP's share of health insurance + childcare

Worked Example

Dad (NCP): $90,000/yr. Mom (custodial): $55,000/yr. Two children.

Combined Annual Income$145,000

Below $163,000 cap — full CSSA appliesYes

CSSA % (2 children)25%

Basic Obligation (Annual)$36,250

Dad's Income Share62.1%

Dad's Annual Obligation$22,511

Dad's Monthly Payment$1,876

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the New York CSSA income cap for 2026? ▼

The 2026 CSSA cap is $163,000 in combined parental income. This cap is reviewed and adjusted periodically by the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). For combined income above the cap, courts may — but are not required to — apply the CSSA percentages. Courts evaluate the children's actual needs and the parents' financial circumstances for above-cap income.

Does New York consider custody time in child support calculations? ▼

Unlike California, standard New York CSSA calculations do not directly factor in the custody time-split. Support is based on income percentages regardless of whether custody is 60/40 or 80/20. However, in cases of truly equal 50/50 custody, courts may offset support obligations between the parents. The CSSA is a formula, not a time-based calculation.

What add-on expenses are included in New York child support? ▼

New York mandates three additional expenses beyond basic CSSA support: (1) childcare costs necessary for the custodial parent to work, attend school, or seek employment; (2) health insurance coverage for the children; and (3) unreimbursed medical expenses. Educational expenses and extracurricular activities may also be ordered by the court. These add-ons are split proportionally by each parent's income share.

Can New York parents agree to deviate from CSSA? ▼

Yes, but with strict requirements. Under DRL §240(1-b)(h), parents can agree to deviate from CSSA if the agreement is in writing, acknowledges the CSSA guideline amount, and states the reason for deviation. Courts will scrutinize below-guideline agreements to ensure they are in the children's best interests. Agreements that are dramatically below CSSA may be rejected.

How often can New York child support be modified? ▼

New York allows modification when there is a substantial change in circumstances, when 3 years have passed since the order was entered or last modified, or when either parent's income has changed by 15% or more since the last order. The 3-year or 15% income change provision was added by the Child Support Modernization Act of 2010, making NY modification more accessible than many other states.