Child Support Ending: How to Prepare for the Financial Shift
- Michelle Rakowski
- Sep 9
- 3 min read
Child support ending is something most parents know will happen someday, but few stop to prepare for the impact. When you’re in the middle of raising children, it’s easy to focus only on the present needs: rent, groceries, school fees, and activities. But here’s the truth: when child support ends, it can feel like a sudden financial cliff.
I learned this firsthand as a single parent of four. The combination of child support, Canada Child Benefit (the “baby bonus”), and tax credits made up a significant part of my household income. The day those supports began to phase out, the financial hit was sobering. Without a plan, that kind of income loss can be devastating.
The Financial Reality of Child Support Ending
Let’s look at an example.
Say you receive $600/month in child support for a child and another $600/month for the same child from the Canada Child Benefit. That’s $1,200 every month, or over $14,000 each year.
When child support ends, whether because your child turns 18, moves in with the other parent, or is deemed financially independent, you don’t just lose the monthly support. You may also lose:
Canada Child Benefit payments
Dependent child tax credits
Other government benefits (such as HST/GST or Trillium benefits in Ontario)
Together, these changes can shrink your income dramatically.
My Own Experience With Child Support Ending
When I was first on my own, my kids were 3, 6, 8, and 12. Like many parents, I leaned on child support and government benefits to get by. But I also knew they wouldn’t last forever.
So I sat down with a notebook and mapped it out. I wrote down the year each child would turn 18, so I’d know when the Canada Child Benefit would stop. Child support was harder to predict; it can continue if kids are still in school or dependent, but I made my best estimate.
Seeing those dates in black and white was eye-opening. I realized that in just a few years, I could lose $14,000 or more in annual income. That’s not a small dip: it’s a financial shockwave if you’re not ready for it.
Why Planning Ahead Matters
The risk of not preparing for child support ending is simple: you’re left scrambling to make up a sudden shortfall. That kind of stress can ripple into every part of life. But when you anticipate the change, you can cushion the blow.
If you’re employed, planning might mean:
Seeking promotions or new roles with higher pay
Picking up extra hours or shifts
Starting a side hustle well before the drop in income
If you’re self-employed or entrepreneurial, it might mean:
Expanding your client base
Launching a new service
Gradually increasing your rates
Either way, the key is to act before the loss happens, not after.
How to Prepare for Child Support Ending
Here’s a simple step-by-step exercise you can do today:
List each child’s current age.
Write the year they’ll turn 18. That’s when most government benefits (like the Canada Child Benefit) stop.
Estimate when child support will end. This varies, but use your best guess.
Write down your current monthly support and benefits per child.
Add up the yearly total you’ll lose.
Now, you’re looking at real numbers. Maybe it’s $7,000, maybe $14,000, maybe more. Whatever it is, you can start building a plan.
Child Support Ending Doesn’t Have to Be a Crisis
It’s easy to push this kind of planning aside when life is busy. But trust me, child support ending without preparation can leave you reeling. A sudden income loss of thousands of dollars a year is hard to absorb without warning.
The good news? With foresight, strategy, and small steps taken early, you can transition smoothly. You might even use this moment as a launch pad to grow your career, strengthen your finances, and model resilience for your children.
Next Steps
Are you worried about child support ending and what it will mean for your finances? You don’t have to navigate it alone. At Alliston Resolutions, I help parents prepare for life transitions, financially and emotionally.
Contact Alliston Resolutions to book a consultation and start planning for your family’s financial future.
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