The consultation on child maintenance payments has been extended to ensure a comprehensive range of views is collected, including feedback from all relevant organisations and stakeholders. The extended period will allow for a more inclusive discussion on the future of child maintenance in the UK.

Background of the Child Maintenance Consultation

Launched on 8 May 2024 by the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), the consultation aims to explore ways to increase the number of children kept out of poverty through effective child maintenance payments. The proposals, developed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) under the previous government, outline several key changes to the current system.

Proposed Changes to the Child Maintenance Service

1. Stopping the Direct Pay Service:
   One proposal is to stop the Direct Pay service and manage all cases via the Collect and Pay system, where CMS collects and transfers all payments. This change would allow CMS to tackle non-compliance more quickly and take enforcement action when necessary.

2. Supporting Family-Based Arrangements:
   Another proposal involves enhancing the calculation tool and improving support for family-based arrangements. This would include better signposting to conflict resolution support, making it easier for families to reach mutually agreeable maintenance arrangements.

3. Supporting Victims of Abuse:
   The consultation seeks feedback on how CMS can better support victims of domestic or economic abuse, building on recommendations from Dr. Samantha Callan’s 2023 Independent Review of the Child Maintenance Service.

Current Scope and Impact of the Child Maintenance Service

In the 12 months to March 2024, the CMS arranged over £1.4 billion in child maintenance payments and managed 722,000 arrangements for 658,000 paying parents and 986,000 children. These figures highlight the significant role of CMS in supporting families and ensuring that children receive the financial support they need.

Extension of the Consultation Period

The consultation, initially set to close earlier, has now been extended to 30 September 2024. The extension allows more time to gather a wide range of views, ensuring that the concerns and suggestions of all interested parties are considered.

Baroness Maeve Sherlock, the Lords DWP Minister, stated: “The extension of the consultation into the Child Maintenance Service will ensure that we provide the best possible opportunity to hear the concerns and thoughts of expert groups and individuals.”