Child Maintenance Service to take essential living costs into account — 6 signatures. Status: rejected.
I petition the Government to reform CMS calculations so paying parents’ essential costs, including mortgage/rent, council tax and utilities, are considered. Child maintenance should remain protected, while assessments should also reflect the parent’s genuine ability to pay fairly and realistically.
At present, CMS calculations are based on gross income, with limited consideration of a paying parent’s essential household expenditure costs such as mortgage/rent, utility bills and other basic household cost. These significantly reduce the income actually available to meet a maintenance liability. I recognise Child maintenance is vital. However, a more sustainable system should take into account whether the paying parent can meet their own basic living costs after paying maintenance.
View this petition on the official UK Parliament website