By Adam Schneid
As of March 1, 2026, New York has increased the statutory income caps used to calculate child support and spousal maintenance in divorce cases. These updates affect how support obligations are determined under the Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) and the Maintenance Guidelines Act (MGA).
The changes were implemented through revised matrimonial forms adopted by the New York Unified Court System and reflect adjustments tied to inflation.
For individuals involved in a New York divorce or family law case, the updated caps may impact the amount of support calculated under the statutory formulas.
New York Child Support Income Cap Increased to $193,000
Under the Child Support Standards Act, courts apply a statutory formula to determine the basic child support obligation based on the parents' combined income up to a specific threshold.
Effective March 1, 2026, the New York child support income cap increased as follows:
- Previous combined parental income cap: $183,000
- New combined parental income cap: $193,000
This means that the CSSA formula must now be applied to the first $193,000 of the parents' combined income when calculating child support.
When parents earn more than the statutory cap, courts may either apply the statutory percentages to income above the cap or determine support using the factors listed in the statute.
For many families, this increase may result in higher child support calculations, particularly where parental income approaches or exceeds the cap.
New York Spousal Maintenance Income Cap Increased to $241,000
New York also increased the income cap used to calculate spousal maintenance (alimony) under the Maintenance Guidelines Act.
Effective March 1, 2026:
- Previous maintenance payor income cap: $228,000
- New maintenance payor income cap: $241,000
Under the Maintenance Guidelines Act, courts apply a statutory formula to determine temporary and post-divorce maintenance based on the payor's income up to the statutory cap.
The formula must now be applied to the first $241,000 of the payor's income when calculating guideline maintenance.
Income above the cap may still be considered by the court, but the judge has discretion regarding how maintenance should be calculated beyond that threshold.
Why New York Adjusts Child Support and Maintenance Caps
The child support cap and maintenance income cap in New York are adjusted periodically by statute to account for inflation.
The March 1, 2026 increases are based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) published by the United States Department of Labor.
These adjustments are intended to ensure that support calculations remain aligned with the current cost of living.
Increase in the Self-Support Reserve and Poverty Level
In addition to the updated income caps, the March 2026 revisions also increased the figures used to ensure that support orders do not reduce a payor's income below subsistence levels.
Effective March 1, 2026:
- Self-Support Reserve (SSR): increased from $21,128 to $21,546
- Federal Poverty Level for a single person: increased from $15,650 to $15,960
These numbers are used in support calculations to ensure that individuals paying support retain enough income for basic living expenses.
Updated New York Divorce Forms and Support Calculators
The New York Unified Court System adopted revised matrimonial forms for Supreme Court divorce actions to incorporate these updated figures.
The updated forms and support calculation tools can be accessed through the New York Courts website here:
https://ww2.nycourts.gov/divorce/legislationandcourtrules.shtml
Using the updated forms is important to ensure that child support and spousal maintenance calculations comply with current New York law.
How the 2026 Changes May Affect New York Divorce Cases
Although these changes are designed primarily to keep support calculations aligned with inflation, they can significantly affect divorce settlements and support orders, particularly in cases where parental income is near the cap.
The updated caps may result in:
- Higher child support obligations under the Child Support Standards Act
- Increased spousal maintenance calculations under the Maintenance Guidelines Act
- Updated minimum income protections through the Self-Support Reserve
Because support determinations involve multiple statutory factors—including income, custody arrangements, and statutory thresholds—using the correct updated figures is essential.
Speak With a New York Divorce Attorney
If you are going through a divorce in New York or expect child support or spousal maintenance to be an issue in your case, it is important to understand how the 2026 increases to the support caps may affect your financial obligations.
The attorneys at Most & Schneid, P.C. represent clients in divorce and family law matters throughout New York, including cases involving:
- Divorce litigation
- Child support disputes
- Spousal maintenance (alimony)
- Custody and parenting time
To discuss how the new child support and maintenance caps in New York may affect your case, contact Most & Schneid, P.C. to schedule a consultation.
For how courts apply — and often exceed — this cap in higher-income cases, see New York Child Support Above the Statutory Cap: What Happens.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship with Most & Schneid, P.C. The information contained herein may not reflect the most current legal developments and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consulting with a qualified attorney regarding your specific situation. If you require legal advice concerning a divorce, child support, or spousal maintenance matter in New York, you should consult an attorney licensed to practice law in your jurisdiction.