What is the difference between child support and child care?

Child support and child care are both payments made for the well-being of a child, however there is an important distinction between the two. A parent is required to pay child support if they are obligated financially to support their child. This support is paid for by the parent with whom the child does not reside and is intended to provide financial assistance for the cost of raising the child. Child support is usually set in place through a court order. Child care, on the other hand, is the payment made to an outside care provider in order to cover the cost of care for a child. Child care is typically a service provided by a daycare center, nanny, or babysitter, and the payment is made to the individual who provides the care for the child. This payment is intended to help the parent cover the cost of day-to-day care for the child while the parent is working or otherwise occupied. In short, child support is an obligation a parent has to provide financial support to their child, while child care is a payment intended to cover the cost of childcare that is provided by an outside provider. Child support can be mandated in a court order, while child care is typically an agreement between the parent and the care provider.

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What is the difference between child support and child care?

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