The Council has decided to review Child Maintenance Service payment calculation rules to ensure fair treatment for children from previous relationships in blended families.

URL: https://milton-keynes.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1647

Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED: 1.      That this Council notes: a)            Under current the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), a parent could in certain circumstances have their child support payments reduced by becoming resident with a new partner, if their new partner’s children become dependents. b)            This decrease in financial support often reduces the income to the primary carer and, in many cases, where it is mothers who take on most parenting responsibilities after separation, many rely on maintenance payments to provide for their children. c)             In Milton Keynes: i)          there are round 9,340 single parent families, many of whom depend on regular child maintenance to make ends meet; ii)        more than 20,000 children are living in poverty, which is nearly 1 in 3; iii)      almost half of paying parents in the city have been found to fall short on their maintenance obligations; iv)      a recent local survey of 102 women shows that 40% feel that CMS is not fit for purpose for either party or the children, 21% have been affected by payment reductions in these circumstances, and 18% said that although they are entitled to maintenance payments, they do not engage with the Child Maintenance Service; v)        when the system allows payments to be reduced to support other dependants children from the original relationship can be left worse off; and vi)      the Government has announced plans to reform the Child Maintenance Service, including stronger enforcement and improved support for victims of domestic abuse and whilst they are welcome, these changes do not address the issue of payment reductions that can affect children from previous relationships when a parent enters a new familial relationship, and the need reform the system to address the growing number, and levels of complexity, around blended families.  2.     That this Council believes: a)            The needs of dependant children from previous relationships should not be disadvantaged when one parent becomes part of a new household with dependant responsibilities. b)            Supporting dependent children from previous relationships is a legal and moral obligation for all parents. c)             The current system is failing too many parents who pick up the majority of parenting responsibilities as well as their children, especially in cities like Milton Keynes where the cost-of-living is already high. 3.             That this Council resolves to: a)      Ask the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, calling for a review of the CMS payment calculation rules. Specifically, we ask for: i)          the government to include blended family responsibilities, and the issues that can arise from their complex nature, in their review of the CMS to ensure a fairer system which acknowledges that reduced support payments can severely impact the welfare of children from previous relationships; and ii)        the issue should form part of the wider strategy being developed to reduce child poverty. b)      Ask the Chief Executive, in conjunction with all Group Leaders, to write to the Chair of the Local Government Association to press for wider reform so the Child Maintenance System works more effectively to support children and to highlight these specific issues. c)      Ask the Leader of the Council to write to the three local MPs requesting them to raise this issue in Parliament and champion fairer treatment for families across the city.

Date of Decision: July 16, 2025