Parents pushed to breaking point by Child Maintenance Service, BBC told
Child Maintenance System Leaves Parents at Their Limit, BBC Panorama Reports
Ninoda.com – Mothers and fathers across England, Scotland, and Wales have told BBC Panorama that the government agency responsible for enforcing post-separation child payments is pushing them to the edge of endurance. Some mothers described prolonged battles to compel former partners to fulfil their financial obligations, while fathers recounted how bureaucratic errors generated months of anxiety and stress.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which operates the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), responded by stating that "in the vast majority of cases" it successfully secures "vital payments for children." The department added that it takes "very seriously the small number of cases where things go wrong."
A Mother's Desperate Choices
Katy, whose relationship ended more than three years ago, could not reach an agreement with her former partner over maintenance for their two children. Like hundreds of thousands of other parents, she sought CMS assistance. Yet she told Panorama the system simply does not function for her.
Her ex-partner is obligated to pay more than £330 each month. According to Katy, he has not paid, and the accumulated arrears now stand at almost £10,000. She said the absence of that income forced her into agonising trade-offs.
"Last year, I was really struggling. I did go to food banks… there's been occasions where I've wanted the kids to be able to do more, more clubs, do stuff with their friends. I've had to say no, I feel terrible."
Another mother told Panorama she was compelled to skip meals after an abusive ex-partner ceased payments entirely. A father described years of conflict with the CMS, including an episode in which the agency added a child to his account who was not his.
Scale of the Problem
Roughly four million children in England, Scotland, and Wales have separated parents. A maintenance arrangement is legally required when a child is under 16, or under 20 if enrolled in approved education or training. Both parents bear responsibility for the costs of raising their children regardless of how much time they spend with them.
When disputes arise over how those payments are delivered, parents may approach the CMS to ensure a child's living expenses — bills, food, clothing — are met. The agency applies a formula factoring in variables such as the paying parent's income to calculate the required amount.
The CMS currently oversees more than 800,000 cases across England, Scotland, and Wales, involving over a million children. Northern Ireland operates its own separate service. Demand has surged: case numbers climbed by approximately 300,000 over the past five years. The DWP's most recent annual report recorded more than 1,400 complaints in the first three months of this year.
How Collect and Pay Works — and Where It Fails
The CMS does not assess both parents' financial positions; it relies solely on the paying parent's income. When a parent does not remit payments directly after an arrangement is established, the service can draw funds from wages, bank accounts, or benefits through its Collect and Pay mechanism.
By the end of March 2026, approximately 350,000 cases were processed under Collect and Pay, including those where paying parents voluntarily chose that route. In such cases, the CMS tacks on a 20% fee to the amount owed by the paying parent and deducts 4% from what the receiving parent is entitled to.
The agency holds authority to pursue arrears and can seek a court-recognised debt through a liability order. Yet in the first three months of this year, almost 61,000 Collect and Pay cases saw no payments whatsoever — a shortfall affecting 86,000 children, per DWP data.
Katy's Two-Year Wait for a Court Order
In March of last year, the CMS informed Katy it would seek a liability order against her ex-partner but cautioned the court process would require 26 weeks. Katy felt relief and marked the anticipated date on her calendar. As that date drew near, however, the agency told her the order had still not been obtained. By September, the CMS once again stated it would apply for a liability order.
BBC Panorama meets parents on both sides of the maintenance equation and examines whether the system is failing them and their children. The programme is available on iPlayer now or aired Monday 17 August at 20:00 on BBC One.
Related Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Parents pushed to breaking point by Child?Parents pushed to breaking point by Child is the main topic of this guide. The article explains the context, practical details, and next steps readers should understand.
Why does Parents pushed to breaking point by Child matter?Parents pushed to breaking point by Child matters because readers are looking for a useful answer, not just a short summary. Good content should match search intent and help them decide what to do next.