Children across Britain are receiving more financial support than ever before as the Child Maintenance Service reports a sharp rise in compliance, according to figures released by the government this week.
Nearly 130,000 parents are now paying more than 90 per cent of the child maintenance they owe through the service’s Collect & Pay function, a record high that represents a 27 per cent increase over the past year. At the same time, the proportion of parents paying nothing at all has dropped by almost a fifth since March 2025.
The Child Maintenance Service currently supports almost 1.6 million parents across Great Britain, with the new data showing significant improvements not only in enforcement but also in customer service. Call answer rates have jumped from 59 per cent in summer 2024 to 85 per cent, while average telephone waiting times have fallen from more than 28 minutes to just over 11 minutes.
Government push to tackle child poverty
The figures come as the government intensifies efforts to reduce child poverty and improve children’s life chances. Child maintenance arrangements are estimated to keep around 120,000 children out of relative poverty by providing vital support with everyday costs such as food, clothing and school expenses.
Baroness Maeve Sherlock, Minister for Lords, said the priority was straightforward. “Our priority is simple – ensuring children get the support they are entitled to from both parents,” she stated. “As we continue to modernise the Child Maintenance Service record numbers of parents are now paying their child maintenance arrangements, helping more money reach children and supporting families right across the country.”
She added that while most parents using the service fulfil their obligations voluntarily, enforcement action would be taken where necessary. “Where parents don’t meet their responsibilities, we will take action to ensure kids have food on their table and shoes on their feet,” she said.
More parents managing cases online
Alongside tougher compliance measures, the Child Maintenance Service has modernised its digital offering. More parents are now choosing to manage their cases online, reducing the need for telephone contact and enabling faster resolution of queries.
The improvements to the service form part of a wider strategy to lift 550,000 children out of poverty by the end of this Parliament, which the government says would mark the largest reduction in child poverty since records began. Measures include lifting the two-child benefit limit.
According to the latest data published by the Department for Work and Pensions, the total number of paying parents due to pay via Collect & Pay stood at 243,000 in March 2026.
What this means for Poles in the UK
If you are a Polish parent living in the UK and separated from your child’s other parent, you may be entitled to child maintenance or required to pay it. The Child Maintenance Service can help arrange payments if you cannot agree privately. Both parents with care and paying parents can use the service, regardless of nationality, as long as the child lives in England, Scotland or Wales.
The recent improvements mean shorter waiting times when you call and better online tools to manage your case. If you are owed maintenance and the other parent is not paying, the service can now enforce payment more effectively, with compliance at a record high. If you are the paying parent, be aware that failure to meet your obligations can result in enforcement action, including deductions from wages or benefits.
Child maintenance is calculated based on the paying parent’s gross income and the number of children. You can use the online calculator on GOV.UK to estimate amounts. If your circumstances change – for example, if you lose your job or your income drops – you should inform the Child Maintenance Service as soon as possible to avoid arrears building up.
For more information or to apply, visit the Child Maintenance Service section on GOV.UK or call the helpline. The service is available in English, and interpretation support can be arranged if needed.
