UK Child Maintenance Calculator
Estimate child maintenance using relevant income and supported family circumstances. Explore indicative weekly, monthly and annual payments.
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UK Child Maintenance Resource Centre
Child Maintenance Resources & Guides
Explore practical guides covering child maintenance calculations, CMS rates, gross income, shared parenting, benefits, unpaid maintenance and eligibility in the UK. Find the information you need and estimate payments using our free child maintenance calculator.
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Detailed child maintenance topic guides
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Featured Child Maintenance Resources
New to child maintenance? Start with our calculator, a complete introduction to CMS and the current calculation rates.
Complete Child Maintenance Guide
Understand the Child Maintenance Service, who needs to pay, how assessments work and the different payment options available to separated parents.
Read Complete Guide →Child Maintenance Rates UK
Compare Nil, Flat, Reduced, Basic and Basic Plus rates. Learn how the number of qualifying children affects the weekly maintenance amount.
Explore CMS Rates →
Resource Library
Explore All Child Maintenance Guides
Browse detailed articles by category or search for the topic relevant to your circumstances.
Complete Child Maintenance Guide
Learn who pays child maintenance, how CMS works, how arrangements are made and what parents should know about payments.
Read Guide →How Is Child Maintenance Calculated?
Follow the statutory calculation process, from relevant income to child numbers, adjustments and shared-care deductions.
Read Guide →How Much Child Maintenance Should I Pay?
Explore indicative amounts and understand how income, children and different family situations affect maintenance liability.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance Rates UK
Compare statutory weekly income bands and percentages for one, two or three or more children.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance for One Child
Understand the one-child calculation, income rates, payment examples and relevant adjustments.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance for Two Children
Learn how CMS calculates combined payments for two qualifying children and what changes the amount.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance for Three Children
Explore rates for three or more children, higher-income bands and practical payment examples.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance If You Have Another Child
Understand how a new baby, second family or qualifying stepchildren can affect the income used by CMS.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance for Self-Employed Parents
Learn how relevant taxable business profits, HMRC records and fluctuating earnings affect maintenance calculations.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance on Benefits
Explore benefit-related CMS assessments, Flat and Nil rates and rules concerning qualifying benefits.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance and Pensions
Understand eligible pension contributions and how they affect the relevant income used in CMS assessments.
Read Guide →Gross or Net Income for Child Maintenance?
Learn why CMS normally starts with relevant gross income rather than ordinary take-home pay.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance for Unemployed Parents
Understand unemployment-related maintenance, qualifying benefits, low-income assessments and reporting a job loss.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance for High Earners
Explore Basic Plus rates, the £3,000 weekly CMS income ceiling and possible court top-up arrangements.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance and Shared Care
Understand how CMS adjusts maintenance when a child spends qualifying nights with the paying parent.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance Overnight Stays
Learn how weekends, holidays and annual overnight stays affect the statutory shared-care bands.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance with 50/50 Shared Care
Discover the difference between equal overnight stays and genuinely equal day-to-day care under CMS.
Read Guide →Direct Pay vs Collect and Pay
Compare how payments are made, CMS collection charges and what happens when money is not paid.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance Arrears
Understand missed payments, outstanding maintenance, repayment arrangements and statutory recovery options.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance Changes and Annual Review
Learn about CMS annual reviews, income changes, revised payment plans and challenging relevant decisions.
Read Guide →When Does Child Maintenance Stop?
Understand the age limits, education requirements and circumstances affecting when payments normally end.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance for University Students
Learn how starting university affects CMS eligibility and what other support options may exist.
Read Guide →Child Maintenance Calculator Scotland
Explore CMS calculation rules in Scotland, eligibility and distinctive Scottish family-law considerations.
Read Guide →No Resources Found
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Maintenance
Not sure where to begin? These frequently asked questions address some of the topics that parents commonly explore when arranging child maintenance.
Our dedicated FAQs page includes 30 searchable questions about CMS rates, income, eligibility, shared care and missed payments.
Explore All FAQs →How is child maintenance calculated in the UK?
CMS generally uses the paying parent's relevant gross weekly income, the number of qualifying children and statutory adjustments. Read the calculation guide .
Does 50/50 shared care mean no maintenance?
Not automatically. CMS distinguishes equal overnight stays from genuine equal day-to-day care. Understand equal shared care .
Do unemployed parents have to pay maintenance?
They may still need to pay. Qualifying Flat and Nil rates depend on the statutory circumstances. Read the unemployment guide .
When does child maintenance stop?
Ordinary CMS payments depend on the child's age and qualifying education or training. Learn when payments end .
Can CMS recover missed payments?
CMS may recover maintenance legally due under the applicable collection and enforcement rules. Read about arrears .
Independent Child Maintenance Information
Our resources explain general Child Maintenance Service rules for England, Scotland and Wales. Each guide is intended to help readers understand the applicable calculation framework and navigate official government information.
Important: Child Maintenance Calculator UK is an independent website and is not affiliated with GOV.UK, HMRC, DWP or the Child Maintenance Service. Online calculations provide estimates rather than official CMS decisions.
For authoritative guidance, see the Child Maintenance Service on GOV.UK . Learn how our website approaches published information through our Editorial Policy and Calculation Methodology .
Ready to Calculate Your Child Maintenance?
Use our free UK child maintenance calculator to explore indicative weekly, monthly and annual payments based on supported income and family circumstances.