{"id":983,"date":"2023-03-13T13:08:59","date_gmt":"2023-03-13T13:08:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.redstareducation.co.uk\/blog\/?p=983"},"modified":"2023-03-13T13:08:59","modified_gmt":"2023-03-13T13:08:59","slug":"getting-back-missed-child-maintenance-payments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.redstareducation.co.uk\/blog\/getting-back-missed-child-maintenance-payments\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting Back Missed Child Maintenance Payments"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the quarter ending June 2022, only 44%<\/a> of parents due to pay child maintenance via the Collect and Pay service paid more than 90% of the maintenance due. With this in mind, let\u2019s have a look at how child maintenance works and what you can do if you live with your child and the other parent is failing to pay what they owe.<\/p>\n

What is Child Maintenance?<\/h2>\n

Child maintenance helps to cover the cost of providing for a child when one of their parents does not live with them. The child in question must be under age 16, or under age 20 if they are in approved education or training<\/a>. It is a financial arrangement between both parents which they can choose to make themselves or through the Child Maintenance Service (CMS).<\/p>\n

Private Arrangements vs Child Maintenance Service<\/h2>\n

You can sort out a private arrangement for payments with the other parent yourself. However, if you do so, you must remember that this is not a legally binding agreement. Therefore, no one can collect missed payments if your child\u2019s other parent fails to pay what you agreed upon.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, you can opt to go through the CMS. They will work out your child maintenance amount and you can either choose to arrange payments with the other parent yourself (Direct Pay) or use the CMS to collect and pass on these payments (Collect and Pay).<\/p>\n

To find out how they calculate the child maintenance amount, click here<\/a>. To get a reference number in order to apply to the CMS, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Source: Child Maintenance Service Paying Parent data via the Government website<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The above graph highlights how common missed payments are within child maintenance agreements, with only 64% of Paying Parents under Collect and Pay actually paying something towards their maintenance. So, let’s have a look at what you can do when your child’s other parent fails to make payments in full and on time.<\/p>\n

Missed Payments under a Private Arrangement<\/h2>\n

If you have a private arrangement and the Paying Parent is failing to pay the amount due on time, you can ask the CMS to begin collecting child maintenance instead. However, the CMS cannot make the parent pay any arrears (missed payments) already owed.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, you can choose to get the payment order enforced by the court. You can contact Citizens Advice<\/a> for help on how to do this.<\/p>\n

Missed Payments under the CMS<\/h2>\n

The CMS can take certain steps to recover missed payments<\/a> if the Paying Parent fails to pay child maintenance on time, underpays, or misses payments entirely.\u00a0If you use a system of Collect and Pay to collect child maintenance payments, the CMS:<\/p>\n