The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a major child maintenance update affecting almost 130,000 parents in the UK, as record-high payments are made through the improved Child Maintenance Service (CMS).
New figures show thousands more parents are now paying what they owe, with changes to the CMS driving up compliance for families. The majority of parents using the service’s Collect & Pay function are now paying more than 90% of the maintenance due, which is up by around 27% from last year.
Fewer Parents Paying Nothing
The number of parents paying nothing at all has fallen by around 19% since March 2025, with the CMS now supporting around 1.6 million parents. This comes as the government works to tackle child poverty, with child maintenance arrangements keeping 120,000 children out of relative poverty and providing vital support.
Minister for Lords, Baroness Maeve Sherlock said: “Our priority is simple - ensuring children get the support they are entitled to from both parents. As we continue to modernise the Child Maintenance Service record numbers of parents are now paying their child maintenance arrangements, helping more money reach children and supporting families right across the country.”
Improved Customer Service
“Most parents who use the CMS support their children without CMS having to enforce it but, where parents don’t meet their responsibilities, we will take action to ensure kids have food on their table and shoes on their feet,” Sherlock added.
The improvements allow parents to choose to manage their cases online, with those who need to contact CMS by phone receiving faster responses and experiencing shorter waiting times. The data shows significant improvements in customer service, with 85% of calls answered, compared with 58% in summer 2024, and average waiting times falling from 28 minutes to just over 11 minutes.
Impact on Child Poverty
The government is aiming to lift 550,000 children out of poverty, thanks to the lifting of the two-child benefit limit. If this happens, it will represent the largest reduction in child poverty since the records on the subject first began.
