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.

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.

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.

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.

New York Child Support Calculator

Estimate NY CSSA support with March 2026 updates: $193,000 combined income cap, $21,546 Self-Support Reserve, and 17/25/29/31/35% percentages.

Updated April 2026 DRL §240(1-b) / FCA §413 Private — runs in your browser

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 per DRL §240(1-b): 17% (1 child), 25% (2), 29% (3), 31% (4), 35% (5+). Combined income cap: $193,000/yr (effective March 1, 2026). Self-Support Reserve: $21,546/yr.

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

$2,500/mo base

CSSA Rate25% (2 children)

Capped Income$175,000

NCP Share68.6%

Monthly CS by NCP Income Level

Children	CSSA Rate	Monthly CS	Annual
1	17%	$1,700/mo	$20,400
2 ← you	25%	$2,500/mo	$30,000
3	29%	$2,900/mo	$34,800
4	31%	$3,100/mo	$37,200
5	35%	$3,500/mo	$42,000

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

$3,536/mo total

NCP After-Tax

Gross: $120,000/yr

Federal tax: −$18,143

NY state/city: −$10,200

Net after CS: $4,102/mo

Support Breakdown

Base CSSA: $2,500/mo

Health ins.: +$286/mo

Childcare: +$643/mo

Medical: +$107/mo

Total: $3,536/mo

How New York Child Support Works in 2026

New York calculates child support under the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA), codified in Domestic Relations Law §240(1-b) for matrimonial actions and Family Court Act §413 for non-matrimonial cases. The formula applies fixed percentages to combined parental income up to a statutory cap.

The CSSA Percentages

1 child: 17%
2 children: 25%
3 children: 29%
4 children: 31%
5+ children: 35% (minimum)

2026 Combined Income Cap — $193,000

Effective March 1, 2026, the CSSA cap rose to $193,000 in combined parental income (up from $183,000 since March 2024). The cap adjusts biennially by Consumer Price Index. For combined income above the cap, courts have discretion (not obligation) to apply CSSA percentages to the excess — they may also award lower amounts based on the children's actual needs and §240(1-b)(f) factors.

CSSA Cap History

2016: $143,000
2018: $148,000
2020: $154,000
March 2022: $163,000
March 2024: $183,000
March 2026: $193,000 (current)
Next review: March 2028

Self-Support Reserve (SSR) — $21,546 in 2026

Under DRL §240(1-b)(d), courts must ensure a child support order does not reduce the payor's income below the Self-Support Reserve — set at 135% of the federal poverty level for a single person. For 2026, SSR = $21,546/yr. Orders that would drop the payor below SSR are capped or reduced to protect subsistence.

Step 1: Combined Income = NCP Income + Custodial Income (capped at $193,000)
Step 2: Basic Support = Combined Income × CSSA %
Step 3: NCP Obligation = Basic Support × (NCP Income / Combined Income)
Step 4: Verify NCP Net After Support ≥ Self-Support Reserve ($21,546/yr)
Step 5: Add pro-rata share of childcare, medical, and educational add-ons

Add-Ons (Separate from Basic Percentage)

Childcare costs — pro-rata by income share when custodial parent works or attends school
Unreimbursed medical/dental — pro-rata by income share
Health insurance premium — pro-rata allocation of children's portion
Educational expenses — private school, college (court discretion)

Worked Example — 2026

NCP earns $100,000/yr. Custodial parent earns $60,000/yr. Two children.

Combined Income$160,000/yr

Below $193,000 cap — full CSSA appliesYes

CSSA % (2 children)25%

Basic Support (combined)$40,000/yr

NCP income share (100/160)62.5%

NCP monthly obligation~$2,083/mo

NCP net after support (est.)~$70K — well above SSR

Legislative Watch

Bills A8389-A / S8431 are pending in the 2025–2026 legislative session proposing structural changes to CSSA percentages (particularly for higher income brackets and shared-custody formulas). Neither bill has been enacted as of April 2026. We monitor and update this calculator when new law takes effect.

Official Sources & Legal References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 2026 CSSA combined income cap? ▼

Effective March 1, 2026, the CSSA cap is $193,000 in combined parental income (up from $183,000). The cap adjusts biennially per Consumer Price Index (CPI) via the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. For combined income above $193,000, courts exercise discretion under DRL §240(1-b)(f) — they may apply CSSA percentages to all income, some, or none. Next review: March 2028.

What is the Self-Support Reserve in 2026? ▼

The 2026 Self-Support Reserve is $21,546/yr (135% of the federal poverty level for a single person). Courts must ensure a support order does not reduce the payor's net income below this floor. If guideline support would violate SSR, the order is reduced. This protects low-income payors from being pushed into destitution while still requiring contribution to their children's support.

Does the court have to apply CSSA above the cap? ▼

No. Above $193,000 combined income, courts have full discretion under §240(1-b)(f). They may: (1) apply CSSA percentages to all income, (2) apply to income above the cap only if children's needs justify it, or (3) set a fixed dollar amount. The 10 statutory factors include children's lifestyle, each parent's resources, educational needs, and tax consequences. Many courts apply CSSA up to ~$350–500K combined, above which discretion rules.

How are add-ons (childcare, medical, education) calculated? ▼

Add-ons are calculated separately from the basic CSSA percentage and allocated pro-rata by income share (not 50/50). For example, if NCP earns 62.5% of combined income and childcare is $1,000/mo, NCP's share is $625/mo on top of the basic obligation. Statutory add-ons include: work-related childcare, unreimbursed medical/dental, children's portion of health insurance premiums, and — at court discretion — educational expenses.

What is "income" under New York CSSA? ▼

Under DRL §240(1-b)(b)(5), income includes: gross wages, investment income, pensions, veterans' benefits, workers' compensation, unemployment benefits, Social Security benefits, disability benefits, and fringe benefits. Deductions allowed: FICA, Medicare, NYC/Yonkers income tax, maintenance/alimony paid, other support orders, union dues, and mandatory retirement. The result is "CSSA income" used in the formula.

When to Consult a New York Family Law Attorney

NY CSSA is deceptively simple — the 17/25/29/31/35 percentages are easy, but above-the-cap discretion, Self-Support Reserve limits, and add-on allocation create complexity. Consult a licensed NY attorney if your case involves: combined income above $193,000 (cap discretion), imputed income (self-employed, cash businesses), significant non-wage income (investment, trust distributions), interstate jurisdiction (UIFSA issues), or modification requests. The Appellate Divisions have nuanced case law on each CSSA factor.