Review CMS safeguards to prevent financial abuse and coercive control
Review how the CMS detects and acts on concerns of financial abuse. We believe survivors need better access to support to navigate systems that could enable continued abuse after separation.
Signatures
10,720
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 10,000/10,000 · reached
Debate threshold (100,000) · 10,720/100,000
- 31 MAR 2026Government respondedDepartment for Work and PensionsGovernment reply
The Government takes financial abuse and coercive control seriously. The CMS has a range of safeguards in place and continues to strengthen support so survivors can access maintenance safely.
Read full response - 24 MAR 2026Petition closedFinal total: 10,720 signatures
- 17 MAR 202610,000 signatures reachedEligible for a government response
- 24 SEPT 2025Petition opened for signatures
Background
We believe the Child Maintenance Service and family courts are outdated and could enable ongoing abuse. There are concerns that abusers may be able to use legal processes like Child Arrangement Orders and financial control via CMS to continue coercive behaviour post-separation. We feel these systems lack adequate safeguards to protect survivors and children from harm. We feel a review is needed to ensure the CMS is trauma-informed, survivor-centred, and doesn't enable abuse.