Child Maintenance Calculator
Calculate child maintenance payments based on current UK government rates
Calculate Your Child Maintenance
Calculation Breakdown
Important: This is an estimate based on the Child Maintenance Service rates. The actual amount may vary depending on your specific circumstances. For official calculations, contact the Child Maintenance Service directly.
Child Maintenance Guide
How Child Maintenance Works
Child maintenance is financial support paid by a parent to help with their child’s living costs. In the UK, the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) calculates payments based on the paying parent’s gross weekly income.
- Payments are typically made weekly, fortnightly, or monthly
- The amount depends on income and number of children
- Payments continue until the child is 16 (or 20 if in education)
- Both parents have a legal responsibility to support their children
Current Rates 2025
The CMS uses a percentage-based system to calculate payments:
- 1 child: 12% of gross weekly income
- 2 children: 16% of gross weekly income
- 3 children: 19% of gross weekly income
- 4+ children: Additional 2% per child
Reductions apply if the paying parent has other children living with them.
Income Categories
The CMS categorises income into different rates:
- Nil Rate: £0 – for students or very low income (under £7/week)
- Flat Rate: £7 per week – for those on benefits or low income
- Reduced Rate: Sliding scale for income £100-£200/week
- Basic Rate: Percentage of income over £200/week
What’s Included
Child maintenance covers the child’s basic living costs including:
- Food and clothing
- Housing and utilities
- Basic childcare costs
- Transport to and from school
Additional costs like school trips, uniforms, or medical expenses may require separate agreements between parents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Payments can be made weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, depending on what works best for both parents. The CMS typically calculates amounts as weekly figures, but you can arrange the payment frequency that suits your circumstances. Most payments are made through the Collect & Pay service or Direct Pay arrangements.
If your income increases or decreases significantly, you should inform the Child Maintenance Service. They will reassess your case and adjust payments accordingly. Annual reviews are conducted automatically, but you can request a review if your circumstances change by more than 25% or £25 per week.
Yes, payments may be reduced if the paying parent has other children living with them. Reductions are calculated as: 1 child = 11% reduction, 2 children = 14% reduction, 3+ children = 16% reduction. Shared care arrangements (staying overnight 1+ nights per week) can also reduce payments.
For self-employed parents, the CMS uses historic income information from HMRC, typically from the most recent tax year. If recent accounts show significantly different income, these may be considered. Self-employed parents should keep accurate records and may need to provide additional financial information.
Child maintenance typically stops when the child turns 16, or continues until 20 if they remain in full-time education (not including university). Payments also stop if the child moves to live with the paying parent, gets married, or enters a civil partnership.
Private arrangements (Direct Pay) are agreements made between parents without CMS involvement – no fees apply. CMS arrangements (Collect & Pay) involve the service collecting and transferring payments – fees of 4% (paying parent) and 2% (receiving parent) apply. Many parents start with private arrangements and use CMS if issues arise.