What Happens to Child Support if My Ex Gets a New Job?

 Posted on December 14, 2025 in Child Support

More than three million parents in the U.S. receive child support payments every year according to the United States Census Bureau. If you need child support and you don’t have a court order, that is the first place to start. If you already have a court order and are hoping to change it, our Wheaton, IL child support lawyer can give you more details about your options.

What Factors Does a Court Consider When Determining Child Support?

Hourly wages or salary are not the only things a court will consider when making decisions about child support. Child support is calculated using both parents' incomes under 750 ILCS 5/505. The law defines "income" to include many different sources of money beyond just your paycheck.

The following factors may influence the amount a parent pays in child support:

• Spousal support or child support orders from a previous relationship

• Regular overtime pay

• Second or third jobs

• Bonuses, commission, and holiday pay

• Dividend income from investments

• Severance pay from a previous employer

• Pension and retirement income

• Trust income and annuities

When you start a new job, all these income sources become part of the calculation. If your new position offers a signing bonus, that counts as income. If you receive profit sharing or stock options, those factor in too. The court wants to see the complete picture of what money you have available to support your children.

How is Child Support Calculated in Illinois?

Each parent pays their share of child support based on how much money they make. For example, if you earn 60 percent of the combined income, you are responsible for 60 percent of the child support costs. 

The parent who has the child most of the time pays their share of child support by directly caring for the child. The other parent pays their share as a monthly payment.

The court also adds extra expenses to the support amount. These include things like after-school care, therapy sessions, sports and activities, or health insurance premiums. When you change jobs, the parent who pays for these extras might change. 

For instance, your new employer might offer affordable family health insurance, while the other parent was paying for coverage before. The court can shift who pays for health insurance and adjust the total support amount based on this change.

How Does a Job Change Affect Child Support?

In order for child support payments to be modified, a parent must have a "substantial change in circumstances." The law says that a substantial change means the child's needs have changed or either parent's ability to provide support has changed.

A substantial change usually means income has gone up or down by at least 20 percent from when the court made the original support order. If you or your ex takes a new job that pays a lot more, the other parent can ask to increase child support because one of you can now afford to pay more. If you accept a lower paying job, you might ask to decrease what you pay because you earn less now.

However, a substantial change does not automatically mean a judge will change the child support amount. The court looks carefully at why your income changed. For example, a court will not reduce support if you quit your job or take a much lower paying job on purpose to avoid paying child support. The judge wants to make sure you are not trying to game the system.

Will Child Support Find My New Job?

Illinois has systems in place to track parents who owe child support and locate their employment. When you start a new job, your employer must report you to the Illinois New Hire Directory, according to Illinois Child Support Services. This directory exists specifically to help the state find parents with child support obligations.

The reporting system works automatically. Your employer sends your information to the state database, which checks it against child support cases. If you have a child support order, the system identifies your new employment quickly. 

The child support enforcement agency can then issue an income withholding order to your new employer. This means that even if you do not tell the court or the other parent about your job change, the system will find your new job. 

Can I Petition to Modify Child Support in Illinois if I Found Out My Ex Got a Raise?

You can petition to modify child support in Illinois if your ex got a raise, but only if the raise creates a substantial change in circumstances. If your ex's raise pushes their income up significantly, you can file a petition with the court asking for an increase in child support. The court will recalculate the support amount using both parents' current incomes and the income shares model. Until the court approves a new support amount, your ex must continue paying the original amount.

I Lost My Job. Do I Still Have to Pay Child Support?

You are still required to pay child support even if you recently lost your job. You cannot simply stop making payments or reduce the amount on your own just because you lost your job. However, losing your job may qualify as a substantial change in circumstances that allows you to petition the court for a modification.

You should file this petition as soon as possible after losing your job. While your case is pending, continue paying what you can to show the court you are trying to be responsible. The judge will look at whether your job loss was on purpose and whether you are making reasonable efforts to find new employment.

If the court approves your modification, the new lower amount only applies from the date you filed the petition forward, not retroactively. Any unpaid support from before that date still must be paid.

Contact a DuPage County Child Support Lawyer

Get the help of a Wheaton, IL family attorney with The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C. if you are hoping to ask the court to change child support payments. We have more than 100 years of combined experience working for clients on family law issues. Call us today at 630-462-9500 for a consultation about your case.