Will I Lose Child Support if My Child Starts Working?

 Posted on September 04, 2026 in Child Support

It’s an exciting moment when your child gets their first job. Even if it’s a simple summer gig, they have the opportunity to begin building skills they’ll rely on for the rest of their life. However, additional income may raise questions about whether you’ll still get the full amount of child support that was previously ordered.

Illinois child support is mainly based on the parents’ incomes and parenting arrangements. A child’s part-time or summer job does not automatically reduce or end child support. The ordered amount remains in place unless the court changes it or the order reaches its termination date.

A Kane County, IL child support attorney can help address any concerns about reductions to your child support order in 2026.

What Determines the Amount of Child Support Ordered in Illinois?

Illinois uses an income shares model to calculate child support (750 ILCS 5/505). The court combines both parents’ net incomes and uses the state’s support schedule to find the basic support amount. Each parent’s share is based on their portion of the combined income. Parenting time can also affect the amount in some cases.

A child’s wages are not included in either parent’s net income. Still, the court can consider the child’s financial resources and needs. If the usual child support amount would be unfair or inappropriate, the court can order a different amount.

When Does Child Support Normally End in Illinois?

A child getting a job isn’t a qualifying event for ending support. Under 750 ILCS 5/510(d), support for a child ends when:

• The child becomes emancipated

• The child turns 18 (if they have already finished high school)

• The child graduates high school or turns 19, whichever comes first

A court can also order a parent to help with college costs after these events. When deciding how college expenses should be divided, the court can consider the financial resources of both parents and the child.

Does a Teenager With a Job Count as Emancipated?

Working part-time while living at home does not usually make a child emancipated. Under the Emancipation of Minors Act (750 ILCS 30/), a 16- or 17-year-old can ask the court for complete or partial emancipation. The court will then consider whether the child can manage their own affairs and live fully or partly apart from their parents or guardian.

A child may also be treated as emancipated under common law. Examples include marrying or joining the military. The court also has room to find partial emancipation, where support can sometimes be reduced rather than ended. This is, however, highly uncommon.

What is Required to Change a Child Support Order in Illinois?

To change child support, a parent must file a petition with the court and show a substantial change in circumstances. Examples can include a major change in either parent’s income, a change in parenting time, or a change in the child’s needs. A child getting a part-time job usually is not enough by itself.

If your co-parent assumes that a child getting a job means they don’t need to pay as much support, communicate to them that that is not the case. A parent cannot simply decide to pay less because the child started working. If they stop paying the full amount anyway, you can use one of several enforcement options. The existing amount must be paid until the court changes the order. If the parent pays less without court approval, the unpaid amount can build up. This can have serious consequences, including contempt or even jail time in extreme cases.

Call a St. Charles, IL Child Support Attorney Today

Before making assumptions about what affects your support order, speak with an experienced attorney. Our Kane County, IL family law lawyers can review your order and tell you whether a change is realistic.

Our lead attorney is a trained mediator with significant family law experience. We focus on resolving disputes through mediation rather than litigation whenever possible. If mediation does not work, we are ready to litigate aggressively to protect your interests.

We offer free consultations. Call Shaw Sanders, P.C. at 630-584-5550 today to schedule yours.