Reform the CMS calculation so payments reflect real care. Include all childcare time by paying parents, not just overnight stays. Automatically factor in costs related to travel and a child’s disabilities or long-term health conditions, rather than requiring a separate application for variation.
React
Members can read every reason.
Reform Child Maintenance Service: Support Active Fathers & End Historic Arrears
The CMS is meant to support children - we think that too often, it’s tearing families apart. We feel that many loving, active fathers are treated unfairly & that the CMS ignores shared parenting, fails to recognise time spent with children, & can create unaffordable debt that parents can’t dispute.
Reform Child Maintenance Service, strengthen processes to protect paying parent
Reform CMS by calculating maintenance using net income, tax maintenance as income for the receiving parent, allowing reductions for denied contact, mandatory auditable arrears explanations, cease liability at 16, ensure due process before deductions, prosecute false declarations by either parent.
Include Child Maintenance as Income in Universal Credit and Means-Tested Benefit
Child maintenance payment is not counted as income for Universal Credit, allowing some to receive maintenance payments and benefits. At the same time, paying parents must meet their obligations even where those payments reduce their overall household income below the Universal Credit threshold.
Require child maintenance payments to increase by inflation & review enforcement
We call the Government to review and look into reforming Child Maintenance Service (CMS). We believe the current payment system does not reflect the true cost of raising children, especially in the current cost of living crisis.
Reassess CMS calculations to include assets and non-PAYE income for parents
We ask the Government to conduct a full review of Child Maintenance System calculation rules for parents who are self-employed or work outside the PAYE system. We request a modernised, transparent assessment framework reflecting the true financial position of parents, regardless of employment type.
Reform the CMS calculation so payments reflect real care. Include all childcare time by paying parents, not just overnight stays. Automatically factor in costs related to travel and a child’s disabilities or long-term health conditions, rather than requiring a separate application for variation.
React
Members can read every reason.
Reform Child Maintenance Service: Support Active Fathers & End Historic Arrears
The CMS is meant to support children - we think that too often, it’s tearing families apart. We feel that many loving, active fathers are treated unfairly & that the CMS ignores shared parenting, fails to recognise time spent with children, & can create unaffordable debt that parents can’t dispute.
Reform Child Maintenance Service, strengthen processes to protect paying parent
Reform CMS by calculating maintenance using net income, tax maintenance as income for the receiving parent, allowing reductions for denied contact, mandatory auditable arrears explanations, cease liability at 16, ensure due process before deductions, prosecute false declarations by either parent.
Include Child Maintenance as Income in Universal Credit and Means-Tested Benefit
Child maintenance payment is not counted as income for Universal Credit, allowing some to receive maintenance payments and benefits. At the same time, paying parents must meet their obligations even where those payments reduce their overall household income below the Universal Credit threshold.
Require child maintenance payments to increase by inflation & review enforcement
We call the Government to review and look into reforming Child Maintenance Service (CMS). We believe the current payment system does not reflect the true cost of raising children, especially in the current cost of living crisis.
Reassess CMS calculations to include assets and non-PAYE income for parents
We ask the Government to conduct a full review of Child Maintenance System calculation rules for parents who are self-employed or work outside the PAYE system. We request a modernised, transparent assessment framework reflecting the true financial position of parents, regardless of employment type.