What Is the Child Maintenance Service (CMS)?
A plain-English guide to what the CMS is, how it works, and when you need to use it.
What is the Child Maintenance Service?
The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is a government body in the UK that helps arrange financial support for children whose parents live apart. It is run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and replaced the old Child Support Agency (CSA) for most cases.
When two parents separate, one parent (known as the paying parent) is typically required to make regular payments to the parent the child lives with most of the time (the receiving parent). The CMS can calculate how much should be paid, collect the money, and pass it on.
What does CMS stand for?
CMS stands for Child Maintenance Service. It replaced the old Child Support Agency (CSA), which itself stood for Child Support Agency. Many people still use "CSA" as shorthand when they mean the CMS - both terms refer to the same government function.
Do you have to use the CMS?
No - parents are encouraged to arrange child maintenance privately between themselves first. This is called a family-based arrangement and is the cheapest and most flexible option. There are no fees, and you can agree any amount you both feel is fair.
However, if you cannot agree privately, or if the paying parent refuses to pay, you can apply to the CMS to step in. The CMS has legal powers to calculate and enforce payments.
Who counts as a child for CMS purposes?
Child maintenance through the CMS covers children who are:
- Under 16 years old, or
- Under 20 and in approved full-time education (not university) or approved training
- Living in England, Scotland, or Wales (Northern Ireland has a separate system)
How does the CMS calculate payments?
The CMS uses the paying parent's gross annual income (before tax and National Insurance) to work out how much should be paid. It gets this figure directly from HMRC, so you can't hide income. The percentage of gross income paid depends on how many children are involved:
| Number of children | % of gross weekly income |
|---|---|
| 1 child | 12% |
| 2 children | 16% |
| 3 or more children | 19% |
Use our net pay calculator to see how much this would be based on your take-home pay - most people find it easier to think in terms of what actually lands in their bank account.
What powers does the CMS have?
The CMS has significant legal powers to enforce payments if the paying parent refuses or falls behind. These include deducting money directly from wages, taking money from a bank account, charging interest on arrears, and taking court action including removing a driving licence or even imprisonment in extreme cases.
How do you apply to the CMS?
You can apply online at GOV.UK or call the CMS on 0800 171 2345 (free). There is a £20 application fee for the paying parent (the receiving parent does not pay to apply).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the CMS the same as the CSA?
Can I use the CMS if we have a court order?
What if the paying parent lives abroad?
Want to know exactly what you'd pay?
Use our free net pay calculator - enter your take-home pay, not gross, for a realistic figure.
Try the Calculator →