News and communications

A clampdown on parents who refuse to take financial responsibility for their children has been set out by the government today.

• Updated: 8 May 2024

New powers for the Child Maintenance Service to recover cash from non-paying parents faster.

• Updated: 12 February 2024

Parents who refuse to pay child maintenance will face accelerated sanctions as Ministers announce the introduction of new powers to speed up strong enforcement action and other reforms to make the Child Maintenance Service (…

• Updated: 2 October 2023

Parents who fail to pay child maintenance will face tougher sanctions faster after new laws were passed today (20/07/23) to speed up stronger enforcement action.

• Updated: 20 July 2023

A Bill ensuring victims of domestic abuse can receive child maintenance without contact from their abuser has today received Royal Assent (Thursday, 29 June 2023).

• Updated: 29 June 2023

Thousands of families struggling with parental conflict will receive increased support to improve their relationships, thanks to a £2.8 million government boost.

• Updated: 8 June 2023

Parents who refuse to pay child maintenance could face curfews, as Ministers plan new powers for the Child Maintenance Service.

• Updated: 8 July 2022

Children of separated parents are set to benefit from changes to the Child Maintenance Service announced today (14 March 2022) as new powers are revealed.

• Updated: 14 March 2022

Tough new powers to help tackle child maintenance arrears are being proposed in a consultation that launched today (14 December 2017).

• Updated: 14 December 2017

New powers to stop parents avoiding paying child maintenance that they owe have been announced.

• Updated: 29 October 2017

This research brings together evidence on parenting behaviours and the extent to which public policy can support parents.

• Updated: 20 February 2017

Thousands of children are benefiting from their separated parents working together on child maintenance arrangements, new figures show.

• Updated: 7 February 2017

Research shows the majority of separated parents using the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) are managing child support payments themselves.

• Updated: 16 December 2016

An extra £2.5 million in government funding to help charities and other groups support families going through relationship breakdown.

• Updated: 8 March 2015

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The number of children living with both birth parents has risen to 70%.

• Updated: 5 March 2015

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The number of absent parents who are now paying towards the cost of their children through the Child Support Agency has hit an all-time high.

• Updated: 25 January 2015

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

More than 6 out of 10 separated parents using the new Child Maintenance Service are now choosing to make their own financial arrangements.

• Updated: 18 December 2014

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Separated parents who fail to contribute financially to the upbringing of their children, face ruining their credit rating from next year.

• Updated: 5 November 2014

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Single and separated parents who have previously received no maintenance from their former partner could start receiving payments.

• Updated: 11 September 2014

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The last of a series of radical changes to the child maintenance system is implemented today (11 August 2014).

• Updated: 11 August 2014

First published during the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government