Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Child or spousal support payments

Definition

Child or spousal support payments paid in a reference period under an agreement to pay a fixed amount on a regular basis to a former spouse or partner, or for a child.

For the 2021 Census, the reference period for income data is the calendar year 2020, unless otherwise specified.

Statistical unit(s)

• Person

Classification(s)

• Not applicable

Reported in

2021 and 2016 (25% sample), 2011^{Footnote 1} (30% sample).

Reported for

Population aged 15 years and over in private households

Question number(s)

Direct variable: Question 57

Responses

Positive dollar value or nil

Remarks

Introduced in the 2011 NHS, child or spousal support payments were taken into account to help compute the deductions required from after-tax income to obtain disposable income for the MBM.

Support payments received from a former spouse or partner would be considered income and included in market income not included elsewhere.

This variable excludes all other gifts or transfers of money.

For additional information about data collection method, coverage, reference period, concepts, data quality and intercensal comparability of the income data, refer to the Income Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021.

Note(s)