What Is Child Maintenance in the UK?
Child maintenance refers to the regular payments made by the non-resident parent to the parent with care, to support the child’s living costs, education, and day-to-day needs.
- It applies if the child is under 16, or up to 20 if still in full-time education.
- Arrangements can be made privately, through a court order, or via the UK’s Child Maintenance Service (CMS). (gov.uk)
How Payments Are Calculated
The CMS bases payments on the gross weekly income of the paying parent, adjusted for pension contributions, other dependents, and shared care arrangements.
- Basic Rate: If gross income is between £200–£3,000 per week.
- 12% for one child
- 16% for two children
- 19% for three or more children (gov.uk)
- Reduced Rate: For income between £100–£200 per week.
- Flat Rate: £7 per week, usually when on benefits.
- Nil Rate: In some cases, no payment is required.
Adjustments apply if the child stays overnight with the paying parent (“shared care”). Variations can also be requested if there are special expenses (e.g. disability care costs) or additional income sources. (moneyhelper.org.uk)
If the paying parent earns above £3,000 per week, the receiving parent may need to apply to court for extra maintenance.
Payment Methods & Enforcement
Two main ways to pay child maintenance:
- Direct Pay – Parents arrange transfers privately, without CMS fees.
- Collect and Pay (via CMS) – CMS collects funds from the paying parent and transfers them to the receiving parent.
- This service involves fees: 20% surcharge for the paying parent, and 4% deduction from the receiving parent.
If the paying parent fails to make payments, CMS can enforce collection through:
- Deductions from salary or bank accounts
- Court enforcement orders
- Asset seizures
How Dogpay Supports Cross-Border Child Maintenance
When parents live in different countries or use different currency accounts, Dogpay makes cross-border child maintenance payments easier, safer, and more transparent.
- Cross-Border Transfers: Convert funds into GBP and remit directly to UK accounts, reducing exchange rate losses.
- Automated / Scheduled Payments: Set up recurring weekly or monthly transfers to ensure timely maintenance payments.
- Clear Records & Receipts: Dogpay generates exportable transaction logs with timestamps—useful for audits, disputes, or legal proceedings.
- Minimized Fees: Avoid hidden bank charges and intermediary costs common in traditional transfers.
- Multi-Currency Support: Handle different currencies seamlessly if parents live abroad.
- Compliance & Security: Built-in KYC/AML checks ensure safe, compliant transactions.
✨ Takeaway: Child maintenance in the UK is designed to secure a child’s well-being, but when international borders and currencies are involved, payments can be complicated. Dogpay ensures these obligations are fulfilled reliably, efficiently, and transparently.
