Petition · past parliament · Department for Work and Pensions

Change method to work out child maintenance to be based on net not gross income

Closed 596 signatures

What the petition asks

Change the method for calculating child maintenance payments by the paying parent to be based on net income not gross income and do not add on values such as company car benefit in kind as this is not actual income!
My CMS total payments amount to 23% of my net income. Life is very difficult as I must also support my daughter at Uni who does not qualify for the full loans to live. I’m expected to add £6k a year to help her whilst supporting my son who chooses to live full time with his dad at £8400 a year . I’m completely broke. I earn a decent salary but I feel penalised for earning well and having a company car and my daughter does not qualify for a full maintenance loan and has to apply for hardship grants

Timeline

17 Aug 2020 Petition opened for signatures
17 Feb 2021 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 596
Status Closed
Department Department for Work and Pensions
Opened 17 Aug 2020
Closed 17 Feb 2021

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.