The Government is planning new measures to deal with parents who refuse to pay child maintenance. 

Accelerated Sanctions 

Those who fail to meet their obligations will face accelerated sanctions following the introduction of powers to speed up enforcement action. The consultation is now taking place on using liability orders to speed up enforcement, removing the application fee to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), and longer-term changes. 

Streamlined Enforcement Process 

Families will be paid faster as the CMS will use administrative liability orders to recover unpaid child maintenance instead of applying to the courts and waiting up to 22 weeks. This change could reduce the wait for further action to around six to eight weeks. Around 10,000 parents a year who wilfully refuse to pay maintenance are estimated to be affected, benefiting thousands of children and parents for whom child maintenance is crucial. 

Additional Measures 

The Government will remove the £20 application fee for all parents to ensure children in the poorest families are not disadvantaged. Maintenance calculations will also include unearned income, such as savings, investments, and property income, making it more difficult for parents to avoid paying the correct amount. 

Official Statements 

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said, “These new powers will improve how the Child Maintenance Service supports children of separated parents, helping families receive child maintenance faster and preventing further arrears.”