In an ordinary CMS Basic-rate calculation, a paying parent generally pays 16% of their relevant gross weekly income for two qualifying children. This rate applies when the adjusted weekly income falls between £200 and £800. Other income bands, pension adjustments, supported children and shared care can affect the final amount.
How Much Child Maintenance Is Payable for Two Children?
The amount of child maintenance payable for two children depends on the circumstances of the paying parent and the children covered by the assessment. Parents can make an agreement themselves or use the Child Maintenance Service (CMS).
When CMS makes a statutory calculation, it generally starts with the paying parent's relevant gross weekly income. It then considers eligible adjustments, identifies the appropriate rate and accounts for qualifying overnight care.
The ordinary Basic rate for two children is 16%, not two separate payments of 12%. The 12% rate applies to a straightforward one-child Basic calculation.
Example: On £600 relevant gross weekly income, the two-child Basic rate is £600 × 16% = £96 per week before any shared-care reduction.
This website's Child Maintenance Calculator provides an independent estimate for supported situations. The official CMS assessment may be different.
Child Maintenance Rates for Two Children
Different CMS rates apply according to the paying parent's relevant gross weekly income and the applicable circumstances.
| Gross Weekly Income | Rate | Two-Child Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Below £7 | Nil | £0 |
| £7–£100 | Flat | Generally £7 weekly |
| Above £100, below £200 | Reduced | £7 + 25% of income above £100 |
| £200–£800 | Basic | 16% of relevant income |
| Above £800, up to £3,000 | Basic Plus | First £800 at 16%; remainder at 12% |
The figures describe general income-based assessments. The CMS can also use other rules, including Flat-rate treatment for certain qualifying benefits or a Default rate when suitable income information is not available.
The standard CMS income formula ordinarily considers gross weekly income up to £3,000. Additional maintenance through a court may be possible in qualifying cases.
Compare All Child Maintenance Rates →How Does the 16% Basic Rate Work for Two Children?
The Basic rate generally applies when relevant gross weekly income is £200 to £800. For two qualifying children, CMS applies 16%.
The amount is the combined starting weekly maintenance for the two children in a straightforward single-household case. It is not automatically 16% for each child separately.
Example: £500 Weekly Income
Relevant gross weekly income: £500
Two-child Basic percentage: 16%
£500 × 0.16 = £80
The calculation can change where qualifying pension contributions, other supported children or overnight care affect the assessment.
Two-Child Maintenance Examples Based on Weekly Income
The following figures show illustrative combined weekly maintenance for two children at different relevant gross weekly incomes.
The examples assume no pension adjustment, other supported children, qualifying shared care or variation.
| Gross Weekly Income | Rate | Weekly Maintenance |
|---|---|---|
| £150 | Reduced | £19.50 |
| £200 | Basic | £32.00 |
| £250 | Basic | £40.00 |
| £400 | Basic | £64.00 |
| £500 | Basic | £80.00 |
| £600 | Basic | £96.00 |
| £800 | Basic | £128.00 |
| £1,000 | Basic Plus | £152.00 |
| £1,500 | Basic Plus | £212.00 |
| £2,000 | Basic Plus | £272.00 |
How Much for Two Children on a £36,500 Annual Salary?
For illustration, £36,500 annual relevant income converts into £700 weekly using the CMS annual-to-weekly method of dividing by 365 and multiplying by seven.
£36,500 Annual Income Example
Relevant annual income: £36,500
Weekly income: £36,500 ÷ 365 × 7 = £700
Two-child Basic rate: 16%
£700 × 0.16 = £112
Your official amount may use verified HMRC income, applicable reductions and statutory rounding. These examples are intended for general planning only.
Basic Plus Rate for Two Children
Basic Plus generally applies where relevant gross weekly income exceeds £800 and is no more than £3,000.
For two qualifying children, CMS applies 16% to the first £800 and 12% to the income above £800.
Example: £1,200 Weekly Income
First £800 × 16% = £128
Remaining £400 × 12% = £48
£128 + £48 = £176
Is There a Maximum Standard CMS Amount?
The ordinary calculation generally applies to relevant gross weekly income up to £3,000. For a straightforward two-child Basic Plus calculation, that would produce £392 weekly before qualifying reductions.
This is not an absolute cap on every possible legal maintenance obligation. Court applications may be available in qualifying higher-income cases.
Reduced Child Maintenance Rate for Two Children
The Reduced rate generally applies where relevant gross weekly income is above £100 but below £200.
For two qualifying children without other eligible supported children, the formula starts with £7 and adds 25% of the income above £100.
Example: £150 Weekly Income
Weekly income: £150
Income above £100: £50
£50 × 25% = £12.50
£7 + £12.50 = £19.50
Reduced Rates with Other Supported Children
When the paying parent supports other eligible children, the Reduced-rate percentage above £100 changes as shown below.
| Other Supported Children | Percentage Above £100 |
|---|---|
| None | 25% |
| One | 21.2% |
| Two | 19.9% |
| Three or more | 18.9% |
These percentages are different from the income reductions used for Basic and Basic Plus assessments.
Flat and Nil Maintenance Rates for Two Children
Flat Rate
The general Flat rate is £7 per week where relevant gross weekly income is between £7 and £100. Certain qualifying benefits can also result in a Flat-rate assessment.
The Flat amount is generally the total weekly rate for the applicable assessment, rather than an automatic £7 charge for each child.
Nil Rate
A Nil assessment results in £0 weekly maintenance. It can apply where relevant income is below £7 or other statutory circumstances are satisfied.
Losing a job does not automatically remove a maintenance liability. The CMS considers income, benefits and the relevant statutory conditions.
How Do Other Supported Children Affect Maintenance for Two Children?
CMS can account for certain other children supported by the paying parent or their partner. In an ordinary Basic or Basic Plus calculation, this can reduce the gross income used for assessment.
| Other Eligible Children | Income Reduction |
|---|---|
| 1 | 11% |
| 2 | 14% |
| 3 or more | 16% |
Example: £600 Weekly Income and One Other Child
Original weekly income: £600
Other supported child: 1
Income reduction: £600 × 11% = £66
Adjusted income: £600 − £66 = £534
Two-child Basic rate: 16%
£534 × 16% = £85.44
This example assumes the other child qualifies for the CMS adjustment. There are no additional income variations or special case factors.
What About Pension Contributions?
Eligible pension contributions can also affect relevant income. Where pension deductions have already been accounted for in taxable earnings, they should not be deducted twice.
Learn About Pension Adjustments →How Shared Care Affects Maintenance for Two Children
Qualifying overnight stays with the paying parent can reduce maintenance. CMS considers the relevant number of overnight stays for each qualifying child.
| Overnight Stays | General Reduction |
|---|---|
| 0–51 nights | No reduction |
| 52–103 nights | 1/7 |
| 104–155 nights | 2/7 |
| 156–174 nights | 3/7 |
| 175 or more nights | 50% plus £7 weekly for each qualifying child in this band |
Example: Both Children Stay 52–103 Nights
Starting combined maintenance: £112 weekly
Both children qualify for a one-seventh reduction.
Reduction: £112 ÷ 7 = £16
Example: Each Child Has Different Overnight Stays
If two children have different overnight arrangements, the relevant weekly amount is generally allocated between them before applying their individual care reductions.
One Child: No Shared Care; One: 104–155 Nights
Starting combined maintenance: £112
Equal share for each child: £56
Child 1: 0–51 nights. No reduction. Amount: £56.
Child 2: 104–155 nights. Two-sevenths reduction: £56 × 2 ÷ 7 = £16.
Child 2 after reduction: £56 − £16 = £40.
Combined amount: £56 + £40 = £96.
What If One Child Stays 175+ Nights?
In applicable cases, the share for that child is reduced by 50%, followed by an additional £7 weekly reduction. The other child's care arrangement is considered separately.
CMS distinguishes overnight stays from the actual day-to-day care provided. Having the same number of nights does not automatically prove equal day-to-day care. If neither parent is the main carer because responsibilities are genuinely shared equally, CMS may decide that no maintenance is payable for that child.
Special rules can apply to qualifying benefits, equal care and other circumstances. For applicable Reduced and Basic cases, shared-care reductions cannot reduce weekly liability below £7.
Read the Shared Care Guide →Weekly and Monthly Maintenance for Two Children
CMS normally determines the maintenance amount weekly. The actual due dates depend on the applicable payment schedule. A monthly average is useful for budgeting, but it is not necessarily the amount specified in an official payment plan.
Example: £96 Weekly Maintenance
Weekly maintenance: £96
Annual equivalent: approximately £5,005.71
Monthly average: approximately £417.14
An alternative budgeting convention is 52 weeks divided by 12 months. Actual CMS instalments should always follow the official schedule.
What If the Two Children Live in Different Households?
The calculation may be more complicated when the paying parent has qualifying children living with different receiving parents.
CMS may calculate the overall liability and allocate the applicable amount between children and households, taking relevant arrangements into account.
The paying parent should not automatically calculate 16% separately for each household, as that could overstate the maintenance owed.
Important: Cases involving multiple receiving parents, existing maintenance arrangements or different shared-care patterns may need official CMS assessment.
Similarly, if one child stops qualifying for maintenance while the other remains eligible, the relevant number of children and percentage may change.
How Are Maintenance Payments for Two Children Made?
Parents can often agree maintenance privately. Where CMS is involved, it can arrange Direct Pay or Collect and Pay.
Direct Pay
CMS assesses the amount, while the paying parent makes payments directly to the receiving parent. CMS does not add collection fees for Direct Pay.
Collect and Pay
CMS collects the money from the paying parent and transfers it to the receiving parent. Collection fees apply.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Paying parent's fee | 20% added |
| Receiving parent's fee | 4% deducted |
| Direct Pay collection fee | None |
Example: £96 Weekly Assessment
Assessed maintenance: £96
Collect and Pay paying-parent fee: £19.20
Total paying-parent charge: £115.20
Receiving parent's amount after 4% fee: £92.16.
These are illustrative figures assuming no arrears or other payment adjustments.
Can Child Maintenance for Two Children Change Over Time?
Yes. CMS generally reviews ongoing assessments annually. Some changes must also be reported when they happen.
- A qualifying change in relevant income.
- A change in overnight care.
- A child no longer meeting eligibility requirements.
- A new eligible other supported child.
- Changes in relevant pension contributions.
- A change in qualifying benefit status.
What Happens When the Older Child Stops Qualifying?
If maintenance is no longer payable for one of the two children, CMS may reassess the amount for the remaining eligible child.
For a straightforward Basic-rate case, the percentage would ordinarily change from 16% for two children to 12% for one.
Do not change an official CMS payment amount simply because a child's age, income or living arrangements have changed. Report the change and follow the revised instructions issued by CMS.
How to Estimate Maintenance for Two Children
Before estimating maintenance, collect the information relevant to the paying parent's income and both children's care arrangements.
Identify relevant salary, taxable self-employed profit or pension income.
Include permitted pension contributions and other supported children.
Check whether Flat, Reduced, Basic or Basic Plus applies.
Establish qualifying overnight stays separately for each child.
Compare the result with official CMS guidance and account for any limitations.
Official CMS Guidance and Sources
This guide explains general child maintenance rules for England, Wales and Scotland. Northern Ireland's CMS is administered separately.
For official assessments, payments or decisions, use the appropriate government service.
- GOV.UK — How Maintenance Is Worked Out
- GOV.UK — Detailed CMS Calculation Guide
- GOV.UK — Overnight Stays and Living Arrangements
- GOV.UK — Official Maintenance Calculator
Disclaimer: Child Maintenance Calculator UK is an independent informational website. It is not part of GOV.UK, DWP, HMRC or CMS. The amounts shown are general illustrations and not official assessments or personalised legal advice.
Review our Calculation Methodology and Editorial Policy for further information.