Can Child Maintenance Payments Be Changed?

Annual reviews

The CMS automatically reviews child maintenance payments every year, using the paying parent's latest income as reported by HMRC. If your income has stayed roughly the same, your payments will stay the same.

Requesting an early review

Either parent can ask the CMS for an early review if the paying parent's gross income has changed by more than 25%. This could mean: job loss, significant pay rise, becoming self-employed, or retirement.

Changes in your family situation

The number of children covered changes (e.g., a child turns 16 or leaves approved education)
The amount of shared care changes significantly
The paying parent has a new child they are financially responsible for
The paying parent moves abroad

Applying for a variation

A variation is a formal request to use a different income figure. Common reasons:

Special expenses - high travel costs for contact, caring for a disabled child
Additional income - rental income or investments not in HMRC data
Lifestyle inconsistency - paying parent's lifestyle suggests higher income than declared

Challenging a CMS decision

Mandatory Reconsideration - ask the CMS to look again (within one month)
Appeal to the Tribunal - independent review if still unhappy

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the paying parent reduce payments if they have a new family?

Having a new qualifying child can result in a slight reduction, as the CMS takes other children into account. However, the original children's maintenance is not eliminated.

What happens if the paying parent becomes unemployed?

Payments may reduce to the flat rate (£7/week) if they are on certain benefits. Contact the CMS immediately and request an urgent review.