Change CMS Child Maintenance Calculations to Be Based on Net Pay, Not Gross Pay
A formal government review into the fairness and accuracy of CMS calculations and to review and reform the way the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) calculates maintenance payments.
Signatures
7
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 7/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 7/100,000
- 09 SEPT 2025Petition rejectedduplicate
The following petition calls for the same action: Calculate child maintenance from net pay, not gross pay https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/730665
- 29 AUG 2025Petition created
Background
CMS bases assessments on a paying parent’s GROSS income, without taking into account the significant deductions that are made before a person actually receives their take-home pay such as Income Tax & NI.
This creates financial burden that's unfairly disproportionate for parents already struggling with the rising cost of living. Parents pay thousands of pounds a year in tax and National Insurance – money that is never physically seen. It is unjust to base child maintenance on the pre-tax figure.