Child Support in 2026: What PA’s New Guidelines Could Mean for You.
By Katie Lin Daly
For many Pennsylvanians who pay or receive child support, their only interaction with the Pennsylvania State Collection and Disbursement Unit (PASCDU) is at the very beginning of the process—when a support Order is first established. You file or receive a support complaint, submit your income documents to the domestic relations section, attend a conference, and an Order is entered.
When your connection to the system is that far removed, you might not be aware of the rules surrounding processes like modification, termination or enforcement. You might also not be aware that every four years, the Commonwealth reviews the guidelines used to calculate child support. The last review of the guidelines occurred in 2021 and took effect in January 2022, and this week the Commonwealth released the new rules that will take effect on January 1, 2026.
The following information will help explain what this all means.
Will My Support Automatically Change in January?
No. Even if the new guidelines suggest that your support should be higher, lower, or allocated differently, your current Order will not change on January 1, 2026, without action. To trigger a review, one of the parties must file a Petition with the domestic relations office.
What Do the Guidelines Look Like?
In Pennsylvania, the support guidelines are presented in a chart:
Across the top: the number of children.
Down the side: a family’s combined monthly net income.
To determine ‘basic’ support (before adjustments), you calculate both parents’ combined monthly net income, find the number that corresponds to the number of children, and then divide that amount between the parents in proportion to their incomes.
How Have the Guidelines Changed?
The chart has been updated, primarily due to inflation and changes in the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
For example:
Two children
Combined adjusted net monthly income: $5,000
Old guidelines: $1,484/month basic support
New guidelines: $1,629/month basic support
(Note: This is a simplified example. Actual support may vary based on other factors.)
Can I Just Look at the Chart Myself?
Not exactly.
The steps to determine a child support order generally include:
Determining monthly net income for both parents (gross income minus allowable deductions).
Using the chart to find the basic support amount.
Allocating that amount between the parents according to their income shares.
Adjusting for shared custody time.
Accounting for additional expenses such as childcare and health insurance.
Because every case is fact-specific, the chart alone doesn’t provide the whole answer. If you would like to know with more certainty if your child support might change, you should consult with a family law attorney who can guide you to determine if modification is appropriate.
Other Key Changes
Low-Income Parents: The “self-support reserve” (the amount of income a parent must retain for their own basic needs) has increased in line with the cost of living.
High-Income Parents: The calculation method remains the same, but support amounts will differ under the new chart.
Medical Expenses: Previously, unreimbursed expenses for psychiatric/psychological services and orthodontia were excluded unless agreed otherwise. Under the new rules, those expenses are now included as reasonable medical expenses.
What Should I Do Now?
Now is a good time to re-evaluate your child support situation. A change in the guidelines qualifies as a “change in circumstances,” which may allow for modification.
However, filing a Petition just to “see what happens” can be risky—your support could increase or decrease in unexpected ways. Before filing, speak with a family law attorney who can review your circumstances and help estimate the impact of the new guidelines on your Order.
Curious how the new guidelines might affect your support order? Our family law attorneys can help you evaluate your options. Call us today at 215.362.2474.