The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed seven strict enforcement powers available to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), ranging from passport disqualification to deductions from bank accounts, in a parliamentary update responding to an MP's question about unpaid child maintenance.
Labour Party minister Lilian Greenwood provided the details in response to a query about what measures were being taken to ensure parents with significant arrears could not avoid payments for lengthy periods without facing meaningful enforcement action.
Seven enforcement powers confirmed
Ms Greenwood said the CMS has a "broad range of enforcement powers," including deductions from earnings, deductions from bank accounts, the use of enforcement agents, charging orders, passport disqualification, driving licence disqualification, and prison.
She stated: "The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) operates on the principle that both parents have a financial responsibility towards their children."
"The Department keeps the operation of the CMS under review, including its charging arrangements and enforcement processes. Collection fees were introduced to encourage compliance and contribute towards the cost of operating the service."
Record £231 million collected through enforcement
Ms Greenwood revealed that in the year ending March 2026, the CMS collected £231 million through enforcement action, which she described as "the highest amount collected through its enforcement powers."
She added: "Where a parent fails to pay, the CMS will take action to re-establish compliance and recover arrears, using the enforcement power most likely to secure money for children."
Charging reforms and faster action
The Government has consulted on reforms that would remove Direct Pay and introduce a revised charging structure, including lower fees of 2% for compliant parents while retaining higher charges of 20% for non-compliance.
"Alongside these reforms, we are improving support for Family-Based Arrangements so that parents for whom a private arrangement works well can manage maintenance outside the statutory scheme, helping to ensure that fees are only paid by those families who need the CMS's ongoing support," Ms Greenwood said.
The Government is also introducing Administrative Liability Orders, which will streamline the enforcement process and enable faster action against non-compliant parents.
"The Child Maintenance Service takes account of a paying parent's financial position when setting arrears repayment arrangements," Ms Greenwood said. "Whilst the aim must be to get on-going maintenance payments flowing and to recover arrears as quickly and reliably as possible, consideration is given to individual financial circumstances to ensure repayment rates are appropriate."
