Child Maintenance - UK Payments, Calculator, Eligibility and Parental Responsibilities in 2026

Child maintenance is financial support paid by one parent towards the everyday living costs of a child when the child's parents are separated or do not live together.

In the UK, child maintenance arrangements help ensure that both parents contribute financially to their children's upbringing, regardless of their relationship status.

Payments can help cover essential expenses such as food, clothing, housing, heating, education-related costs and other everyday needs.

Parents can arrange child maintenance privately or use the government's Child Maintenance Service (CMS), which calculates payments and can help collect them.

For separated parents, homeowners and private tenants, understanding child maintenance is particularly important when planning household budgets, managing rental payments or deciding whether to move to a new property.

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What Is Child Maintenance?

Child maintenance is money paid by a parent who does not provide the child's main day-to-day care to help support the child's living expenses.

The parent receiving maintenance is usually the person who has primary responsibility for the child's daily care.

The paying parent is generally the parent who does not have the child's main day-to-day care.

Child maintenance can be arranged through a private agreement or administered by the Child Maintenance Service.

The purpose is to ensure that children continue receiving financial support when their parents live separately.

Child maintenance is distinct from arrangements concerning parental responsibility, child custody or contact.

How Does Child Maintenance Work in the UK?

Child maintenance can be arranged in two main ways.

Family-Based Child Maintenance Arrangement

A family-based arrangement is a private agreement between parents.

Parents decide how much maintenance should be paid, when payments will be made and whether additional expenses will be shared.

Such agreements can offer flexibility and may help avoid formal collection charges.

However, an informal agreement is not normally enforceable by the Child Maintenance Service unless the parents use the statutory system.

Child Maintenance Service

The Child Maintenance Service is the government body responsible for calculating and managing statutory child maintenance arrangements.

The CMS can calculate payments using the paying parent's income, the number of qualifying children and other relevant circumstances.

It can also collect and transfer payments where necessary.

The CMS operates across England, Scotland and Wales, while Northern Ireland has its own administrative arrangements.

Who Has to Pay Child Maintenance?

A parent may be required to pay child maintenance if they are responsible for a qualifying child and do not provide the child's main day-to-day care.

The obligation can apply whether the parents were married, in a civil partnership or never lived together.

Child maintenance is generally payable until the child reaches 16, or up to 20 if they remain in qualifying full-time, non-advanced education or approved training.

The precise rules depend on the child's circumstances.

A parent cannot automatically avoid child maintenance because they are unemployed, self-employed or living abroad.

How Much Is Child Maintenance in 2026?

Child maintenance is not paid at one fixed national rate.

The amount depends primarily on the paying parent's gross weekly income, the number of children covered by the arrangement and any relevant adjustments.

The CMS uses different calculation rates according to income.

The precise calculation also considers other children supported by the paying parent and overnight care arrangements.

Child Maintenance Calculator UK

The Child Maintenance Service calculates payments using the paying parent's gross weekly income.

For the basic rate, the main percentages are:

• 12% for one qualifying child.

• 16% for two qualifying children.

• 19% for three or more qualifying children.

For income between £800 and £3,000 per week, the additional income is generally calculated at 9%, 12% or 15%, depending on the number of qualifying children.

These figures apply before adjustments for shared care and other relevant circumstances.

Example Child Maintenance Calculation

Consider a parent earning £600 gross per week who must pay maintenance for one child.

The basic calculation would be:

£600 × 12% = £72 per week.

This produces an illustrative monthly equivalent of approximately £312.

However, the actual CMS calculation may differ if the paying parent supports other children or has qualifying overnight care arrangements.

Child Maintenance Based on Salary

The CMS generally uses gross income information supplied by HM Revenue and Customs.

This means maintenance is usually calculated using income before Income Tax and National Insurance deductions, subject to the applicable pension contribution rules.

For employed parents, the calculation commonly starts with taxable employment income.

Self-employed parents may be assessed using relevant taxable income information.

The CMS may review income information when calculating or reassessing maintenance.

Child Maintenance for One Child

For one qualifying child, the standard basic rate is 12% of gross weekly income up to £800.

Income above £800 and up to £3,000 per week is generally assessed at an additional 9%.

For example, a parent earning £1,000 gross per week may have a calculation of:

£800 × 12% = £96.

£200 × 9% = £18.

The total would be £114 per week before relevant adjustments.

Child Maintenance for Two Children

For two qualifying children, the standard basic rate is 16% of gross weekly income up to £800.

Income between £800 and £3,000 is generally assessed at 12%.

For example, a parent earning £700 gross per week may have a basic calculation of:

£700 × 16% = £112 per week.

The amount may be adjusted depending on shared care or other children the paying parent supports.

Child Maintenance for Three or More Children

For three or more qualifying children, the standard basic rate is 19% of gross weekly income up to £800.

Additional income between £800 and £3,000 is generally assessed at 15%.

The CMS uses the number of qualifying children covered by the case when determining the applicable percentage.

The final amount can change where the paying parent has other relevant responsibilities or qualifying shared care arrangements.

Child Maintenance and Shared Care

Shared care can reduce the amount of child maintenance payable where a child regularly stays overnight with the paying parent.

The CMS considers the number of qualifying overnight stays during a year.

These reductions apply under the relevant CMS calculation rules. Different provisions can apply to flat-rate cases and genuinely equal day-to-day care arrangements.

Parents should maintain accurate records of overnight stays.

Child Maintenance with 50/50 Shared Custody

Where parents share a child's care equally, child maintenance does not automatically become unnecessary in every case.

The CMS considers who provides the child's main day-to-day care and the relevant living arrangements.

If day-to-day care is genuinely equal, there may be no maintenance payable for that child under the statutory calculation.

However, simply having a child stay overnight for approximately half the year does not necessarily establish equal day-to-day care.

Parents should obtain an accurate assessment of their circumstances.

Child Maintenance for Unemployed Parents

Unemployment does not automatically remove a parent's responsibility to support their child.

Where a paying parent receives certain benefits, the CMS may apply the flat rate of £7 per week.

Some circumstances qualify for a nil-rate calculation.

If the parent's employment or income changes, the CMS should be informed.

A maintenance assessment may be reviewed where the relevant conditions are satisfied.

Child Maintenance for Self-Employed Parents

Self-employed parents may be required to pay child maintenance based on their relevant taxable income.

The CMS generally uses income information supplied by HMRC.

Business expenses, pension contributions and other financial arrangements may affect the calculation under the applicable rules.

Where reported income does not accurately reflect a parent's circumstances, the CMS may consider an application for a variation.

Self-employed parents should maintain accurate financial records.

Child Maintenance and Universal Credit

Child maintenance payments received by a parent are generally disregarded when calculating Universal Credit.

This means receiving child maintenance does not normally reduce the recipient's Universal Credit award.

However, a paying parent's Universal Credit entitlement and other circumstances may affect the maintenance assessment.

Parents should distinguish between child maintenance and other household income when reviewing benefit entitlement.

Child Maintenance and Child Benefit

Child Benefit and child maintenance are separate forms of financial support.

Child Benefit is paid by the government to an eligible person responsible for a child.

Child maintenance is generally paid by one parent towards the child's living expenses.

A parent may receive both Child Benefit and child maintenance.

Receiving Child Benefit can be relevant to determining responsibility for a child, but it does not by itself resolve every child maintenance dispute.

Child Maintenance and Housing Benefit

Child maintenance received by a parent is generally disregarded when assessing Housing Benefit.

However, household circumstances, earnings and other sources of income may affect entitlement.

Parents renting privately should review all available housing assistance.

Child maintenance may improve the household's ability to meet expenses, but it does not guarantee that rent will be affordable.

Child Maintenance and Income Tax

Child maintenance payments are not normally subject to Income Tax in the hands of the receiving parent.

The paying parent cannot generally deduct maintenance payments from taxable income.

This distinguishes child maintenance from some other financial arrangements following separation.

Parents should consider the tax treatment of any additional financial agreements separately.

Child Maintenance Direct Pay

Direct Pay is a CMS arrangement under which the service calculates the maintenance amount, but the paying parent transfers the money directly to the receiving parent.

There are no routine CMS collection charges for Direct Pay.

Parents should keep records of all payments.

Bank transfers can provide evidence that maintenance has been paid.

If payments are missed, the receiving parent may ask the CMS to take further action.

Child Maintenance Collect and Pay

Collect and Pay is a CMS service that collects maintenance from the paying parent and transfers it to the receiving parent.

Collection charges apply.

The standard charges are:

For example, if the maintenance assessment is £100, the paying parent would generally pay £120 while the receiving parent would receive £96.

The charges make it important to understand the difference between Direct Pay and Collect and Pay.

What Happens If Child Maintenance Is Not Paid?

Failure to pay maintenance can lead to enforcement action.

The CMS has powers to recover unpaid maintenance through methods such as deductions from earnings or bank accounts.

More serious cases may involve additional legal enforcement procedures.

Parents who cannot afford their assessed payments should contact the CMS rather than simply stopping payment.

Changes in income or circumstances may justify reassessment.

Child Maintenance Arrears

Child maintenance arrears arise when required payments are missed or underpaid.

The CMS can take steps to recover outstanding amounts.

Arrears may continue to be enforceable even after a child no longer qualifies for ongoing maintenance.

Paying parents should check their payment history and raise any discrepancies promptly.

Receiving parents should retain evidence of payments received.

How to Apply for Child Maintenance

Parents can apply to the Child Maintenance Service where a private arrangement is unsuitable or cannot be agreed.

The application process generally requires information about the child, both parents and the relevant care arrangements.

The CMS may obtain income information from HMRC.

It then calculates the maintenance amount and determines the appropriate payment arrangements.

Parents should provide accurate information and report relevant changes.

Child Maintenance Service Contact Number

Child Maintenance Service: 0800 171 2345

Parents can contact the service about applications, maintenance calculations, payments and changes in circumstances.

Opening hours and contact arrangements should be checked through official government information.

Northern Ireland operates a separate child maintenance administration.

How Long Does Child Maintenance Last?

Child maintenance usually continues while the child meets the qualifying age and education conditions.

Payments generally apply until the child reaches 16.

They may continue until the child reaches 20 where the child remains in qualifying full-time, non-advanced education or approved training.

Maintenance can end earlier or later in particular circumstances depending on the applicable rules and arrangements.

Parents should report changes in education or living arrangements.

Child Maintenance After Divorce

Child maintenance is separate from the financial settlement between divorcing spouses.

A divorce settlement may address property ownership, pensions, savings and other financial matters.

Child maintenance focuses on financial support for the children.

In some circumstances, courts can make additional financial provision for children.

Parents should obtain specialist family law advice where property settlements and child maintenance obligations overlap.

Child Maintenance and Mortgage Payments

A parent's child maintenance obligation is generally separate from their mortgage responsibilities.

Paying a mortgage on the former family home does not automatically remove the requirement to pay child maintenance.

However, certain mortgage payments may be relevant to a CMS variation in qualifying circumstances.

Parents should not assume that voluntary mortgage contributions will be treated as child maintenance.

Clear written agreements and professional advice can help prevent disputes.

Child Maintenance and Renting a Property

Separated parents may need to rent a new property following a relationship breakdown.

Child maintenance can form part of the receiving parent's household budget.

However, landlords and letting agents may have different policies for assessing affordability and verifying income.

Applicants should provide accurate information about their financial circumstances.

Parents should also consider deposit requirements, utility bills and ongoing living expenses.

Child Maintenance and Property Ownership

Child maintenance is generally calculated using income rather than the market value of the paying parent's main residence.

However, property investments and certain additional financial resources may be relevant in particular circumstances.

For example, rental income or other qualifying unearned income may be considered through the CMS variation process.

Owning a valuable property does not automatically determine the maintenance amount.

Child Maintenance for Landlords

Landlords who are separated parents may have rental income that is relevant to their financial circumstances.

The treatment of rental income depends on the statutory maintenance rules.

Landlords should maintain accurate records of property income and allowable expenses.

Where maintenance obligations affect personal cash flow, realistic budgeting is important.

Child Maintenance and Housing Affordability

Child maintenance can influence the affordability of accommodation for both parents.

The receiving parent may rely on maintenance to help meet household expenses.

The paying parent must account f