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Child Maintenance Payments Improvement

The Department for Work and Pensions is improving child maintenance administration through legislative and operational reforms, including the Child Maintenance (Assessment of Parents' Income) Bill and measures to enhance payment collection, transfer efficiency, and customer service response times. The reforms aim to streamline the assessment process and improve communication with parents and recipients.

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Family: Scrutiny and evidence

2026

4 events
29 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Work and Pensions Context · primary home: Child Maintenance Service leg… linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help improve (a) response times to (i) queries and (ii) complaints and (b) other communication between the C

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help improve (a) response times to (i) queries and (ii) complaints and (b) other communication between the Child Maintenance Service and service users.

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27 Apr 2026 | Written question Department for Work and Pensions linked

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to Answer of 2 June 2025 on Question 56485 on the limited capability for work and work-related activity element of Universal Credit, what

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to Answer of 2 June 2025 on Question 56485 on the limited capability for work and work-related activity element of Universal Credit, what progress has been made in reviewing …

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2025

1 event
10 Jun 2025 | Committee report linked

Since introducing up to two weeks of paid statutory paternity leave over 20 years ago, the UK has fallen far behind many comparable countries. We now have one of the worst leave offers in the developed world for fathers and other parents. A maximum of two weeks paternity leave is completely out of step with how most couples want to share their parenting responsibilities and balance these with working life. Our system entrenches outdated gender stereotypes about caring and harms fathers, mothe...

Since introducing up to two weeks of paid statutory paternity leave over 20 years ago, the UK has fallen far behind many comparable countries. We now have one of the worst leave offers in the developed world for fathers and …

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2023

10 events
27 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

Cases are complex where the paying parent’s income is from self-employment or non- earned income. To ensure that a fair arrangement is reached for both receiving and paying parents in these circumstances, a specialist caseworker should be assigned to such cases supported by clear guidance on identifying income sources.

Cases are complex where the paying parent’s income is from self-employment or non- earned income. To ensure that a fair arrangement is reached for both receiving and paying parents in these circumstances, a specialist caseworker should be assigned to such …

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27 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

Research like the Government’s 2022 separated families survey helps form a useful evidence base for effective policy formation. Research on why parents do not have maintenance arrangements but want one would be valuable. We recommend that the Government conduct further research on the reasons parents who want maintenance arrangements do not have one to allow for effective, evidence-based policy interventions, so as to help improve the operation of the child maintenance system and decrease pov...

Research like the Government’s 2022 separated families survey helps form a useful evidence base for effective policy formation. Research on why parents do not have maintenance arrangements but want one would be valuable. We recommend that the Government conduct further …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
27 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

Government policy is to encourage work, returning to work and in-work progression as far as possible to help reduce poverty, however multiple reports have raised concern both about the affordability of maintenance payments and distorted the work incentives caused by the current maintenance levels. This poses a risk to work incentive objectives of Universal Credit.

Government policy is to encourage work, returning to work and in-work progression as far as possible to help reduce poverty, however multiple reports have raised concern both about the affordability of maintenance payments and distorted the work incentives caused by …

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27 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

The unaffordability of maintenance for some parents is causing severe hardship and distress. It also forms a barrier to compliance. Updating maintenance levels and thresholds should therefore be seen as a priority. We recommend the Government completes its analysis of the affordability of maintenance payments and make proposals as an urgent priority no later than six months after our Report has been published.

The unaffordability of maintenance for some parents is causing severe hardship and distress. It also forms a barrier to compliance. Updating maintenance levels and thresholds should therefore be seen as a priority. We recommend the Government completes its analysis of …

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27 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

As part of its work on affordability, the Department should also seek to rebalance legislation so that changes, such as uprating maintenance thresholds, can be made more readily, for example through secondary legislation.

As part of its work on affordability, the Department should also seek to rebalance legislation so that changes, such as uprating maintenance thresholds, can be made more readily, for example through secondary legislation. Type: conclusion | Number: 17 | Paragraph: …

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27 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

The Department’s work on maintenance calculations should prioritise the interests and welfare of the impacted children. In particular the potential implications of changes to maintenance levels on the number of children in poverty must be carefully considered and the implications for other policies (such as state support for parents with children) should be considered alongside changes to maintenance calculations.

The Department’s work on maintenance calculations should prioritise the interests and welfare of the impacted children. In particular the potential implications of changes to maintenance levels on the number of children in poverty must be carefully considered and the implications …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
27 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

We have heard that the current child maintenance system incentivises parental conflict under a “winner takes all system” and there appear to be strong arguments in favour of reform away from such a system. However, reform towards an alternative model, such as an income share model, would require careful consideration and preparation. Once the urgent work on maintenance affordability is finished, the Department should consider a model which incorporates both parents’ income. We suggest that th...

We have heard that the current child maintenance system incentivises parental conflict under a “winner takes all system” and there appear to be strong arguments in favour of reform away from such a system. However, reform towards an alternative model, …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
27 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

We have heard evidence that was strongly critical of the effectiveness of Collect and Pay fees. Such fees are particularly pernicious for parents on low incomes and we recommend that the Government should introduce a system for the means-testing of Collect and Pay fees.

We have heard evidence that was strongly critical of the effectiveness of Collect and Pay fees. Such fees are particularly pernicious for parents on low incomes and we recommend that the Government should introduce a system for the means-testing of …

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27 Apr 2023 | Committee report linked

It is particularly difficult to understand how fees, intended to incentivise the use of Direct Pay, can be justified in cases where the Department appears to have accepted such arrangements are not appropriate, such as in cases of domestic abuse. The Department should introduce a mechanism to waive Collect and Pay fees for customers who have been subject to domestic abuse, or whose children have suffered abuse, be they paying or receiving parents. The evidence base for this should be the same...

It is particularly difficult to understand how fees, intended to incentivise the use of Direct Pay, can be justified in cases where the Department appears to have accepted such arrangements are not appropriate, such as in cases of domestic abuse. …

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2022

11 events
22 Jun 2022 | Committee report linked

The Department’s ability to collect child maintenance is limited by the affordability of payments and the system risks creating a poverty trap for some Paying Parents. More than two-thirds of Paying Parents on Collect & Pay and over a quarter of those on Direct Pay say the payments are not affordable. Low income Paying Parents (those that do not earn enough to pay income tax) make up 46% of Paying Parents and 62% of those with unpaid arrears. The rate at which these arrears can be recovered f...

The Department’s ability to collect child maintenance is limited by the affordability of payments and the system risks creating a poverty trap for some Paying Parents. More than two-thirds of Paying Parents on Collect & Pay and over a quarter …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
22 Jun 2022 | Committee report linked

The Department also told us that some issues identified with the integration of child maintenance were the result of legislation. For example, the rates for calculating child maintenance are outlined in legislation and mean that some paying parents on Universal Credit may see that as their earnings increase the resulting change in improvement in their disposable income is significantly reduced. This is because the combined effect of increases in their child maintenance payment, council tax re...

The Department also told us that some issues identified with the integration of child maintenance were the result of legislation. For example, the rates for calculating child maintenance are outlined in legislation and mean that some paying parents on Universal …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
22 Jun 2022 | Committee report linked

The Department does not know whether all groups of parents find CMS equally accessible or whether CMS produces different outcomes for different groups. The Department’s research found that low-income families, those with disabilities, and those with higher levels of parental conflict, appear more likely to have no arrangement in place. For example, in 2021, 39% of separated parents who were either not working or were economically inactive had no child maintenance arrangements in place, compar...

The Department does not know whether all groups of parents find CMS equally accessible or whether CMS produces different outcomes for different groups. The Department’s research found that low-income families, those with disabilities, and those with higher levels of parental …

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22 Jun 2022 | Committee report linked

The Department received 6,521 complaints about child maintenance (around six for every 1,000 customers) in the year to 30 September 2021. This was considerably down from pre-pandemic levels in line with a general fall in complaints to the Department during the pandemic. Of the 6512 complaints received, the Department upheld 1,278 (1.15 per 1,000 customers). This is the highest per customer rate for any business area within the Department. The Department only upholds a complaint if, on investi...

The Department received 6,521 complaints about child maintenance (around six for every 1,000 customers) in the year to 30 September 2021. This was considerably down from pre-pandemic levels in line with a general fall in complaints to the Department during …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
22 Jun 2022 | Committee report linked

We asked the Department why it was taking so long to identify missed payments and transfer customers onto Collect & Pay.47 The Department informs parents that they should get in touch if their Direct Pay arrangement fails but some do not, for example because they are concerned about causing an issue with the other parent. The Department does not monitor whether payments are made, but does send reminders to the receiving parent, three months after they start (by text) and at each annual review...

We asked the Department why it was taking so long to identify missed payments and transfer customers onto Collect & Pay.47 The Department informs parents that they should get in touch if their Direct Pay arrangement fails but some do …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
22 Jun 2022 | Committee report linked

The amount Paying Parents pay is based on a means tested calculation set out in primary legislation. This applies different rates above certain earnings thresholds that is higher for those on higher incomes and a flat rate of £7 a week for those with the lowest income. The Department has not updated these earnings thresholds since they were set in 1998. In practice, this means that parents now pay child maintenance on much lower incomes than was originally intended. The Department told us tha...

The amount Paying Parents pay is based on a means tested calculation set out in primary legislation. This applies different rates above certain earnings thresholds that is higher for those on higher incomes and a flat rate of £7 a …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
22 Jun 2022 | Committee report linked

The Department has improved the accuracy of its maintenance calculations. The National Audit Office’s estimate of the financial impact of the Department’s errors fell from 2.17% of the monetary value of maintenance in 2015–16 to a record low of 0.65% for 2020–21.71 The Department said that it “would obviously want to go even further than that”.72 The Department designed CMS to reduce the risk of customer fraud and error. In 91% of cases, the Department says that it can legally rely on histori...

The Department has improved the accuracy of its maintenance calculations. The National Audit Office’s estimate of the financial impact of the Department’s errors fell from 2.17% of the monetary value of maintenance in 2015–16 to a record low of 0.65% …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK
22 Jun 2022 | Committee report linked

The Department has reduced the gross cost of administering child maintenance by £132 million (27%) from £497 million in 2011–12 to £365 million in 2020–21. In real terms, this is equivalent to a £242 million (40%) reduction at 2020–21 prices. This is broadly in line with the 47% fall in caseload over the same period. It reduced its net funding requirement by £172 million (from £494 million to £322 million) across the same period, which is £40 million more than the reduction in gross costs bec...

The Department has reduced the gross cost of administering child maintenance by £132 million (27%) from £497 million in 2011–12 to £365 million in 2020–21. In real terms, this is equivalent to a £242 million (40%) reduction at 2020–21 prices. …

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22 Jun 2022 | Written evidence linked

On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Work & Pensions (the Department) about child maintenance in Great Britain.1 We also received and considered written evidence from individuals and organisations from within the sector.

On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department for Work & Pensions (the Department) about child maintenance in Great Britain.1 We also received and considered written evidence from individuals and …

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22 Jun 2022 | Written evidence linked

The Department designed the current child maintenance system to emphasise collaboration between parents, with the CMS available as a voluntary safety net for those separated parents to choose to use if they decide to.31 Written evidence from the Domestic Abuse Commissioner referred to the Department’s data suggesting “a strong prevalence of domestic abuse among receiving parents accessing the CMS”.32 Around two in three applicants to the CMS in the quarter ending September 2021 did not have t...

The Department designed the current child maintenance system to emphasise collaboration between parents, with the CMS available as a voluntary safety net for those separated parents to choose to use if they decide to.31 Written evidence from the Domestic Abuse …

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22 Jun 2022 | Written evidence linked

Parents can use the child maintenance system to continue to abuse their former partners, for example by withholding payments or access to children. Written evidence from Gingerbread and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner set out that, for survivors of domestic abuse, the CMS may be the safest and only way to secure maintenance from their ex-partner.34 However, although vulnerable and low-income families, those with disabilities, and those with higher levels of parental conflict are more likely t...

Parents can use the child maintenance system to continue to abuse their former partners, for example by withholding payments or access to children. Written evidence from Gingerbread and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner set out that, for survivors of domestic abuse, …

▤ View document · ↗ GOV.UK

2018

1 event

2017

1 event