Your child needs to be under 16 - or under 20 if they are in approved education or training . You need to live in the UK as your main home and have the right to live here. You can apply if you’re: either parent (you do not need to live with the child) a grandparent with main day-to-day care of the child the child’s guardian a child over 12 living in Scotland If you do not have an income and you’re either a full-time student or in prison, you do not have to pay child maintenance. There’s no need to apply. You cannot use the Child Maintenance Service if you have an existing consent order approved by a court that is less than a year old. If one of the parents lives outside the UK You cannot apply if the child and the parent with main day-to-day care live outside the UK. The Child Maintenance Service can only help if the parent without main day-to-day care works outside the UK for a British organisation .

You can either arrange child maintenance: privately between parents, if both parents agree through the Child Maintenance Service Get help arranging child maintenance Use the ‘Get help arranging child maintenance’ tool to: find out about your options for paying or getting support for your child find out how to make a private arrangement, if you choose to do this apply to the Child Maintenance Service, if you choose to use it Start now If you cannot use the ‘Get help arranging child maintenance’ tool, call the Child Maintenance Service . If you decide to use the Child Maintenance Service When you contact the Child Maintenance Service, you’ll need: the reference number you got from the ‘Get help arranging child maintenance’ tool your bank details your National Insurance number If you do not have day-to-day care of the child, you’ll also be asked about: your employment details your income and any benefits you get private pension contributions Tell the Child Maintenance Service if it’s not safe for the other parent to know your name (if you’ve changed it) or your location. Find out how to get help if you’re experiencing domestic abuse . Tell the Child Maintenance Service if the paying parent has other income or expenses that you want them to consider when working out payments. This is called ‘applying for a variation’. Either parent can apply. How your information is used The Child Maintenance Service will use your information to: share your name and your child’s name with the other parent (your address is not shared) share your contact details with other government organisations, debt collection agencies or the courts, if needed (details about your case are not shared) look for the paying parent if you do not know their address If the Child Maintenance Service cannot get the information from you or the other parent, they’ll contact: the paying parent’s employer government organisations like Jobcentre Plus prison services or local councils the paying parent’s bank or building society

Making and receiving payments

Payments can be arranged: privately between parents , if both parents agree through the Child Maintenance Service If you use the Child Maintenance Service, they will work out your child maintenance amount based on the paying parent’s circumstances. There are 2 ways to manage payments through the Child Maintenance Service: the paying parent makes payments directly to the receiving parent (Direct Pay) the Child Maintenance Service collects and passes on payments (Collect and Pay) - there are fees for this service When you apply, both parents can say how they’d prefer to manage payments. If the paying parent does not pay in full or on time, the Child Maintenance Service can change the payment method to Collect and Pay. 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 . Your payment plan After you apply, you’ll get a letter telling you whether your payments will be managed through Direct Pay or Collect and Pay. The Child Maintenance Service will work out how much should be paid and when. You’ll get another letter with your payment plan telling you: how much you need to pay and when, if you’re the paying parent how much you’ll receive and when, if you’re the receiving parent You can also view your payment plan in your online account . The first payment is usually made within 12 weeks of applying. If you make or receive extra payments, you must tell the Child Maintenance Service . 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 in full or on time Find out what to do if: you’re owed child maintenance you cannot pay the full amount or on time Direct Pay The paying parent makes payments directly to the receiving parent. You do not pay any collection fees. Keep a record of payments. If you report a missed payment you’ll need to provide a copy of your bank statement. Report changes or missed payments Sign in to your online account to: report a change in your circumstances report if the paying parent misses payments or does not pay enough request to change to Collect and Pay If you do not want to contact the other parent 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. You do not have to contact the paying parent to get payments. You can share your bank details in your online account . Find out how to get help if you’re experiencing domestic abuse . 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.

Sign in to your account

Sign in to your Child Maintenance Service account to: report a change in your circumstances report that the paying parent has not paid in full or on time, if you get payments directly from them using Direct Pay report an extra payment on top of your existing payments report any expenses or income that you want the Child Maintenance Service to consider view your payment plan You’ll need your: 12-digit reference number - you’ll find this on letters from the Child Maintenance Service National Insurance number - you’ll find this on benefit letters or payslips 7-digit PIN number that you chose when setting up your case You cannot use this service to set up a new arrangement. Find out how to apply instead. Sign in What you need to know Contact the Child Maintenance Service if you need help using your online account.

Disagreements about parentage

If you or the other parent in your child maintenance case denies that they’re the child’s parent, the Child Maintenance Service can: ask for evidence that proves one of you is not the parent tell the other parent what’s happened and ask for evidence to prove parentage If there’s no evidence to prove you’re not the parent, the Child Maintenance Service can: ask you and the other parent to take a DNA test ask the courts to make a decision When the Child Maintenance Service assumes who the parent is You’ll be assumed to be the child’s parent if any of the following apply: you were married to, or the civil partner of, the child’s mother at any time between the conception and birth of the child (unless the child is adopted) you’re named on the child’s birth certificate (unless the child is adopted) a DNA test shows you’re the parent you legally adopted the child you’re named in a court order as the parent when the child was born to a surrogate mother Paying child maintenance during a disagreement If you’re assumed to be the parent The Child Maintenance Service will work out a child maintenance amount. You’ll have to pay this if you do not have main day-to-day care of the child. If you prove you’re not the parent you’ll no longer have to pay. If you’re not assumed to be the parent You do not need to pay child maintenance until the disagreement has been sorted out. If you’re found to be the parent, the amount of child maintenance you have to pay will be back-dated to when the case was opened. If you prove you’re not the parent When this happens, the Child Maintenance Service may: refund the payments you’ve made since the date you denied you were the parent offset the amount you’ve paid in child maintenance against maintenance for another child you pay for refund the cost of any DNA tests arranged through the service ask the other parent to pay back any child maintenance to you

Changes you need to report

There are some changes you must tell the Child Maintenance Service about by law. You should report the change as soon as it happens. Either parent can report a change by contacting the Child Maintenance Service . Changes to your circumstances may mean a change to the amount of child maintenance you pay or receive. Find out how child maintenance payments are worked out. What you need to report Tell the Child Maintenance Service if: you change who the child’s main carer is you change the agreement on how often the child stays overnight, either with the paying parent or a local authority, and this change to ‘shared care’ affects your child maintenance payments you want to change how you make and get payments using Direct Pay or Collect and Pay you move house (give your new address within 7 days of moving) you change your bank details you change your phone number you want someone else to deal with your case for you you add a child to your case the child is being adopted by someone else you want to close your case the child no longer lives in the UK someone on the case dies There are extra things that need to be reported about the paying parent. Either parent can tell the Child Maintenance Service if the paying parent: misses a payment when using Direct Pay makes any voluntary payments on top of existing payments has an income change of 25% or more, or no longer has an income is spending more or less money in order to see the child, for example on transport costs If your child is aged 16 to 19 You must report certain information about your child’s eduction after they turn 16. If you do not give the right information You could be taken to court and fined up to £1,000 if you: do not give the information you are asked for give information that you know is false This applies to any person or organisation who, by law, must give the Child Maintenance Service information, for example: employers accountants either parent If you are the paying parent, you will not be taken to court or fined if you made a mistake when you reported your income. You must report the mistake by contacting the Child Maintenance Service as soon as possible so that you pay the right amount of child maintenance.

Contact the Child Maintenance Service

You can contact the Child Maintenance Service through your online account . Call the Child Maintenance Service Child Maintenance Service Telephone: 0800 171 2345 Welsh language: 0800 232 1979 Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 171 2345 British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Find out about call charges There’s a different phone number if you live in Northern Ireland . Contact the Child Maintenance Service by post You can also write to the Child Maintenance Service. Child Maintenance Service (England, Scotland, Wales cases) Child Maintenance Service 21 Mail Handling Site A Wolverhampton WV98 2BU Child Maintenance Service (Northern Ireland cases) Child Maintenance Service 24 Mail Handling Site A Wolverhampton WV98 2BU

Complaints and appeals

Make a complaint Follow the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) complaints procedure if you’re unhappy with the service you’ve received. If you disagree with a decision You can challenge a decision about your payment amount. This is called asking for ‘mandatory reconsideration’. You must ask for this within 30 days of the date on your decision letter. Appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal If you’re unhappy with the outcome of the mandatory reconsideration, you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal within one month of getting the decision. If you submit your appeal after a month you’ll have to explain why you did not do it earlier. Download and fill in form SSCS2 . Send it to the address on the form. You’ll need to choose whether you want to go to the tribunal hearing to explain your case. If you do not attend, your appeal will be decided on your appeal form and any supporting evidence. After you submit your appeal, you can provide evidence. Your appeal and the evidence will be considered at the hearing by a judge and sometimes a financial expert. The tribunal will then make a decision. It usually takes around 6 months for your appeal to be heard by the tribunal.

Make a private arrangement

You can make a private arrangement with your child’s other parent about how to cover your child’s living costs if both parents agree. No one else has to be involved. It’s flexible and can be changed if your circumstances change. For example, you could both agree that one parent: pays some of their income to the parent with day to day care pays for things like housing, school uniform, trips or clubs If you cannot agree, or you feel at risk talking to the other parent, you might be able to use the Child Maintenance Service . Working out payments It’s up to you to decide how much payments should be. You can use the child maintenance calculator to help. Get help to make an arrangement You can read guidance on: working out the cost of raising your children having a conversation about child maintenance recording your agreement You can also search for a local mediator to help you agree on an arrangement. 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 .

When child maintenance stops

Child maintenance stops on 31 August on or after your child’s 16th birthday if they leave education or training. It can continue until your child turns 20 if they stay in approved education or training. Child maintenance is linked to Child Benefit. This means you need to tell HMRC about changes to your child’s education or training, not the Child Maintenance Service. You only need to tell the HMRC Child Benefit service if your child: turns 16 and stays in approved education or training - so child maintenance and Child Benefit continue leaves approved education or training later, before they’re 20 If they leave education or training later, child maintenance stops on the last day of February, May, August or November (whichever comes first). The paying parent may still need to make some payments after regular child maintenance payments stop, for example because they missed payments in the past. Approved education and training Education must be full-time (more than an average of 12 hours a week of supervised study or course-related work experience). This can include: A levels or similar, for example Pre-U, International Baccalaureate T Levels Scottish Highers NVQs and most vocational qualifications up to level 3 - excluding intermediate and advanced apprenticeships home education - if it started either before your child turned 16 or after 16 if they have special educational needs and disabilities traineeships in England Your child must be accepted onto the course before they turn 19. Child Maintenance stops if your child starts studying an ‘advanced’ course, such as a university degree or BTEC Higher National Certificate, or if a course is paid for by an employer. Approved training should be unpaid and can include: in Wales: Foundation Apprenticeships, traineeships or the Jobs Growth Wales+ scheme in Scotland: the No One Left Behind programme in Northern Ireland: PEACE IV Children and Young People 2.1, Training for Success or Skills for Life and Work Courses that are part of a job contract are not approved.

Child Maintenance Service

What child maintenance is

Child maintenance covers how your child’s living costs will be paid when one of the parents does not live with the child. It’s made when you’ve separated from the other parent or if you’ve never been in a relationship.

This is a financial arrangement between you and the other parent of your child. Making arrangements to see your child happens separately.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

You must have a child maintenance arrangement if your child is under 16 (or under 20 if they are in approved education or training).

Both parents are responsible for the costs of raising their children, even if they do not see them.

Options for arranging child maintenance

Child maintenance can be arranged:

privately between parents, if both parents agree
through the Child Maintenance Service

The Child Maintenance Service can:

work out an amount to pay
arrange payments and take action if a parent does not pay
sort out disagreements about parentage
try to find the other parent if you do not know where they are

If you do not want your child’s other parent to contact you or your child

You can use the Child Maintenance Service to arrange child maintenance if you do not want your child’s other parent to know your location or personal information.

Find out how to get help if you’re experiencing domestic abuse.

How it affects benefits

Child maintenance payments will not affect any benefits that you and your children get, including Universal Credit. You will not have to pay tax on them.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Child Maintenance Service

What child maintenance is

Options for arranging child maintenance

If you do not want your child’s other parent to contact you or your child

How it affects benefits

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Child Maintenance Service

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