Child maintenance payment methods and plans
Child maintenance can be paid directly between parents or by Collect and Pay through the Child Maintenance Service (CMS). CMS can collect from the paying parent’s wages, benefits or by Direct Debit. When parents pay or receive child maintenance through Collect and Pay service, they pay a fee each time.
Making and receiving payments
Payments can be arranged:
- through a Family-based child maintenance arrangement, if both parents agree
- through the Child Maintenance Service
If you use the Child Maintenance Service, it will show how child maintenance is calculated based on the paying parent’s circumstances.
There are two ways to manage payments through the Child Maintenance Service:
- the paying parent makes payments directly to the receiving parent (Direct Pay)
- the Child Maintenance Service collects and passes on payments (Collect and Pay) - there are fees for this service
When you apply, both parents can say how they’d prefer to manage payments.
If the paying parent does not pay in full or on time, the Child Maintenance Service can change the payment method to Collect and Pay.
If you need help with money as a paying parent or as a parent getting payments, find out what support you can get with the cost of living.
Your payment plan
After you apply, you’ll get a letter telling you whether your payments will be managed through Direct Pay or Collect and Pay.
The Child Maintenance Service will work out how much should be paid and when. You’ll get another letter with your payment plan telling you:
- how much you need to pay and when, if you’re the paying parent
- how much you’ll receive and when, if you’re the receiving parent
You can also view your payment plan in your online account.
The first payment is usually made within 12 weeks of applying.
If you make or receive extra payments, you must tell the Child Maintenance Service.
If you think your child maintenance amount is wrong
Contact the Child Maintenance Service if:
- you want it to look at the decision again - this is called a ‘mandatory reconsideration’ and you must ask for it within one month of the decision
- the paying parent has other income or expenses that you want them to take into account - this is called asking for a variation
You can also ask for a variation through your online account.
Direct Pay
The paying parent makes payments directly to the receiving parent. You do not pay any collection fees.
Keep a record of payments. If you report a missed payment you’ll need to provide a copy of your bank statement.
Report changes or missed payments
Sign in to your online account to:
- report a change in circumstances
- report if the paying parent misses payments or does not pay enough
- request to change to Collect and Pay
If you do not want to contact the other parent
If you do not want the other parent to know where you live, ask your bank to set up an account with a ‘non-geographic’ sort code. Find out more at:
You do not have to contact the paying parent to get payments. You can share your bank details in your online account.
Collect and Pay
The Child Maintenance Service can collect payments from the paying parent and pass them on to the receiving parent.
They can take the payment directly from the paying parent’s:
- earnings (arranged with their employer)
- bank account (by Direct Debit)
- benefits or pension
You do not need to have any contact with the other parent.
Collection fees
You have to pay a fee each time you make or receive a regular child maintenance payment through the Child Maintenance Service. The fee is:
- 20 per cent (which is added to the payment) for paying parents
- four per cent (which is taken off the payment) for receiving parents
If you use Collect and Pay, you cannot avoid collection fees by paying the other parent directly.
Collect and Pay: make your first child maintenance payment
When your case is first set up, Child Maintenance Service will ask you to make your first payment straight away. This is so that money starts being collected for your children as soon as possible.
You can make your first payment, or any other one-off payment:
- by debit or credit card over the phone
or
- by signing into your online account at any time of day
Your bank or building society may also offer an online banking service. If you’d like to make a payment this way, you’ll need to use these details:
- Account name: DWP CMS NI 2012 Scheme
Account number: 10026576
Sort code: 60-70-80
You’ll also need to use your customer reference number as the payment reference if you make an online payment. This is a 12-digit number starting with the number 12. It will be shown as ‘your reference’ at the top of any letter Child Maintenance Service sends to you.
Direct Debit
You can set up a Direct Debit over the phone or if you’ve registered to use your online account you can set up your Direct Debit online.
The money will automatically be taken from your account and forwarded to the receiving parent.
Direct from paying parent’s earnings
If you are employed, you can pay child maintenance direct from your earnings through a ‘deduction from earnings order’. The money is taken from your earnings before you receive them.
If you are a member of HM Armed Forces, you can also pay direct from your earnings through a ‘deduction from earnings request’, which works in a similar way.
CMS can also ask for deductions from a paying parent’s earnings or pension if they owe some child maintenance, or if they have not made a satisfactory agreement to pay child maintenance.
Direct from paying parent’s benefits
If you receive certain benefits the child maintenance you owe will normally be taken directly from your benefit payments before they are paid to you.