Every day, single parents call our advice line to tell us about the difficulties they are having with the CMS. They tell us that action isn’t always being taken to enforce payments and that by avoiding payments, perpetrators of abuse are able to continue to exert control over their ex-partners.
The lack of enforcement by the CMS is directly linked to child poverty. One research study showed that if child maintenance were paid in full to all children in separated families living in poverty who currently do not receive financial support from their other parent, it could lift 60% of them out of poverty.
Most recently, we intervened in a High Court judicial review case about the CMS, where were able share our expertise with the High Court on how the CMS works.
The case was brought forward by a group of single parents and the children of single parents who argued that the significant problems with the CMS were causing them “significant and prolonged financial difficulties” and “pushing them into poverty”.
We had hoped to see significant reform of the CMS as a result of the case. But sadly, on 15 December 2023, the judge ruled in favour of the Government and agreed with them that the way the system is being operated is lawful (read Gingerbread’s response here).
Although we are disappointed with this outcome, we will not allow it to deter us in our fight for systemic change and will continue to press for significant reforms to the CMS.
Join our campaign for CMS Reform