Key facts
- Parents are reporting significant failures and distress caused by the Child Maintenance Service (CMS).
- Mothers are struggling to receive child maintenance, with one facing nearly £10,000 in arrears.
- Fathers are experiencing anxiety and stress due to administrative errors by the CMS.
- The CMS oversees over 800,000 cases, with a rise in complaints.
- In a significant number of cases, no payments were made by the CMS.
- The CMS Director acknowledged that enforcement processes can be lengthy.
Parents are reporting that the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), the agency responsible for ensuring financial support for children after separation, is failing them. BBC Panorama has spoken to mothers who are battling to get ex-partners to pay, with one facing nearly £10,000 in arrears and resorting to food banks. Another mother has skipped meals due to the lack of support.
Fathers also shared their experiences, describing anxiety and stress caused by administrative errors. One father, Gerry, has been pushed to the brink by years of disagreements with the CMS, including an instance where an incorrect child was added to his account. He reported that the stress caused him anxiety and depression.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which operates the CMS, stated that in the majority of cases, vital payments are successfully arranged. The service oversees over 800,000 cases involving more than a million children, and has seen a rise in complaints. In the first three months of this year, there were no payments at all in almost 61,000 Collect and Pay cases, affecting 86,000 children.
One mother, Katy, has been waiting for a liability order against her ex-partner for over a year, with the CMS citing difficulties in confirming his address. The CMS has apologized for delays in her case and made a consolatory payment. Another mother, Susan, described the CMS's efforts to chase her ex-partner as a 'waste of time and money,' and was told the agency had no warrant officers to enforce a court order.
Simon Hunter, Director of the CMS, acknowledged that enforcement can be a lengthy process for a small percentage of customers but stated that many are highly satisfied with the service and compliance has improved. Citizens Advice noted that more paying parents seek their help than receiving parents, indicating widespread issues.