Search Legislation

Children Act 1989

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

Changes to legislation:

Children Act 1989, Paragraph 21 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 19 March 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to Schedule 2 Paragraph 21:

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

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 [F2under][F3Part 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)[F8section 92 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000] [F9or section 260 of the Sentencing Code].

Textual Amendments

F1Words 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)

F2Words 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)

F3Words 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)

F4Words 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)

F5Words 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

F6Words 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)

F7Words 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)

F8Words 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

F9Words 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)

C1Sch. 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)

Commencement Information

I1Sch. 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)

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

You have chosen to open The Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open The Whole Act as a PDF

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act

The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open the Whole Act without Schedules

The Whole Act without Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

You have chosen to open Schedules only

The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.

Would you like to continue?

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as enacted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources