Child Maintenance Service
Making and receiving payments
If you use the Child Maintenance Service, they will work out your child maintenance amount based on the paying parent’s circumstances.
You can then either:
- arrange payments with the other parent yourself (Direct Pay)
- use the Child Maintenance Service to collect and pass on payments (Collect and Pay) - there are fees for this service
Both parents are given a choice. If either parent chooses Direct Pay, the payment method will be Direct Pay. If the paying parent misses or is late with payments, the Child Maintenance Service can change the payment method to Collect and Pay.
If you make or receive extra payments, you must tell the Child Maintenance Service. You can also contact them if you’re having problems paying.
If you need help with money as a paying parent or as a parent getting payments, find out what support you can get with the cost of living.
Arranging payments yourself (Direct Pay)
Both parents should agree how and when the amount worked out by the Child Maintenance Service will be paid. You do not pay any collection fees when you arrange payment yourself.
You can still ask the Child Maintenance Service for help with missed payments. Keep a record of payments in case there are any problems.
Getting payments without sharing your location
If you do not want the other parent to know where you live, ask your bank to set up an account with a ‘non-geographic’ sort code. The Child Maintenance Service can give you a letter for your bank explaining why you need to set up this type of account. They can give your bank details to the other parent if you do not want to contact them.
Using the Child Maintenance Service to manage payments (Collect and Pay)
The Child Maintenance Service can collect payments from the paying parent and pass them on to the receiving parent. They can take the payment directly from the paying parent’s:
- earnings (arranged with their employer)
- bank account (by Direct Debit)
- benefits or pension
You do not need to have any contact with the other parent.
Collection fees
You have to pay a fee each time you make or receive a regular child maintenance payment through the Child Maintenance Service. The fee is:
- 20% (which is added to the payment) for paying parents
- 4% (which is taken off the payment) for receiving parents
If you use Collect and Pay, you cannot avoid collection fees by paying the other parent directly.
When you’ll pay or receive the money
You’ll get a letter telling you:
- how much you need to pay and when, if you are the paying parent
- how much you’ll receive and when, if you are the receiving parent
The first payment is usually made within 12 weeks of applying.
If you think your child maintenance amount is wrong
Contact the Child Maintenance Service if:
- you want them to look at the decision again - this is called a ‘mandatory reconsideration’ and you must ask for it within one month of the decision
- the paying parent has other income or expenses that you want them to take into account - this is called asking for a variation
You can also ask for a variation through your online account.
If a parent does not pay
If you get payments using Direct Pay, tell the Child Maintenance Service about a missed payment.
If the Child Maintenance Service arranges payment for you through Collect and Pay, you do not need to do anything. They’ll take action when a payment is missed.
If you need help with money as you wait for missing payments, find out what support you can get with the cost of living.
What the Child Maintenance Service can do
The Child Maintenance Service can apply for a court order (called a liability order) and take legal action to recover any unpaid child maintenance. They may charge the paying parent for the cost of any action they take. This is on top of the child maintenance they owe.