Petition · past parliament · Department for Education

Calculate child maintenance based on actual child expenses

Closed 1,684 signatures

What the petition asks

CMS calculate weekly payments to the parent where the child resides using a percentage of the gross income minus pension contributions. CMS does not monitor that the funds are allocated towards the child's needs rather than the receiving parent's, nor are calculations based on invoiced expenses.
The Government needs to change the current outdated process where a percentage is taken from the payer's income and blindly given to a recipient. It can lead to misallocation of funds destined to the children and the funds being used for the receiving parent's personal leisure. The amount paid should be calculated according to recorded expenses, covering 50% of the child's expenses, providing that invoices are supplied (i.e clothes, food, bills, school, etc...).

Timeline

15 Jun 2021 Petition opened for signatures
15 Dec 2021 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 1,684
Status Closed
Department Department for Education
Opened 15 Jun 2021
Closed 15 Dec 2021

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