We call on the UK Government to urgently reform the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) so that it truly protects children, not just financially, but emotionally and mentally.

The Child Maintenance Service was created to support children after separation. But for many families, it has become a source of stress, conflict, and instability that reaches far beyond money. 

Behind every case number are real children, children who hear arguments, feel tension, and live with the consequences of a system that often fuels conflict rather than reduces it.
Reports show that many parents experience worsening mental health and increased conflict as a result of CMS involvement. These pressures do not stay between adult, they unintentionally spill directly into the lives of children. It negatively affects children on both sides of RP and PP

Mental Health Context:
The introduction of the in 2012 came at a time when mental health issues in the UK were beginning to rise more noticeably, with a sharp increase in the years that followed. While CMS was designed to provide financial support, it operates within a wider context of growing pressures on families.
Research by Gingerbread- in its report “Fix the CMS” (2024) highlights the scale of the issue: 96% of paying parents and 72% of receiving parents report that CMS involvement has worsened their mental health. There is strong evidence that parental conflict, financial stress, and poor mental health are among the leading drivers of emotional and behavioural difficulties in children. Many families feel that current CMS processes intensify these pressures rather than reduce them—potentially contributing, indirectly, to the wider mental health crisis affecting children and young people across the UK.

The Human Impact:
Children are not just affected by whether money is paid. They are affected by:
• The stress and anxiety of their parents
• Ongoing arguments and hostility between households
• Financial uncertainty and instability
• Feeling caught in the middle of a system they don’t understand

Some children begin to struggle with anxiety, behavioural problems, and emotional distress. Others see their relationships with one or both parents damaged over time.
This impact is often invisible in official statistics—but it is real, and it is happening every day.

Why This Matters:
We know that parental conflict, poor mental health, and financial stress are among the biggest drivers of negative outcomes for children. Yet many families feel that CMS processes intensify ALL THREE. A system designed to support children should NEVER contribute to their distress.

We call on the Government to:

• Launch an independent review into the full impact of CMS on children’s wellbeing
• Redesign processes to reduce conflict, not escalate it
• Provide better support for both paying and receiving parents to prevent breakdowns in communication
• Ensure fair, consistent, and transparent handling of cases
• Put children’s emotional wellbeing at the heart of every decision, not just financial calculations

Conclusion:
Children cannot speak for themselves in this system, yet they bear the consequences. Both children who receive maintenance and those who live with the paying parent are negatively affected. CMS cannot continue to harm children who deserve stability, peace between their parents, and a system that truly prioritises their wellbeing. CMS must research and understand both sides, ensuring fair treatment of paying and receiving parents to reduce conflict.

We urge the Government to act now.