I personally have had issue after issue with the current system that the Child Maintenance Service ( CMS, CSA ) use to work out what the non residential parent is liable to pay!

The Figure as it stands is taken as a Gross amount i.e for example 30,000 per annum of a full time worker,  working a 40+ hour week.  

The amount expected on a monthly basis can be in excess of £500+

The fact this is taken on a gross figure does not reflect the true take home figure ( Net amount ) of the non residential parent.

This causing the non residential parents to fall into debt with the Child Maintenance Services others into court proceedings which in some cases end in repossession of property or personal belongings and ultimately as confirmed by a statement by the DWP in November 2020 Suicide! It reads

"4,390 paying parents died between September 2017 and June 2020, representing 0.6% of the total number of paying parents using the Child Maintenance Services (CMS) during that time period, Of the 4,390 paying parents 2,860 were in arrears as of the end of the month before their death. The Total value of such arrears was 9.7 Million"

As a paying parent myself who believes that non resident parents should pay towards the care of their child/children I fully understand how this system causes such stresses and hardship for honest hard working paying parents!

The way the Child Maintenance work the payments out are wrong and unjustified and I am writing this petition in order that a fair system be put in place to work out the amount paying parents should pay to be based on a net income amount not gross for example if you earn say £2300 a month Gross,  You are only actually "taking home" between £1840 and £1970 a month so are already at a loss as the amount has not been levied to what you actually "take home" , along side a living expenses form that can be proven by wage slips, amenities expenses  i.e  Gas and Electric, Water and other monthly outgoings to provide like in my situation for a child that i have living with me to provide for also.

Please sign up so that non resident paying parents have fair and equal opportunity to provide for their child/children without the risk or threat of debt, court action or worse. It needs to change so let it start here

Thank you 

Matthew Hayes