Child Maintenance Explained

Breaking Down Child Maintenance: What You Need to Know

What is Child Maintenance?

Child Maintenance is money that the parent you don’t live with gives to the parent you do live with. It helps pay for things like food, clothes, and other everyday needs to make sure you have what you need to grow and be happy.

What is Child Maintenance for?

Child maintenance is money towards all the things you need every day to live. This could be things like…

  • Food

  • Clothes and Shoes

  • School things

  • Bills and housing

  • Fun activities

Child maintenance helps make sure you have everything you need to live, learn, and enjoy life.

How does that benefit me?

Every child has the right to a good enough standard of living to live a full and happy life (UNCRC Article 27). It is both parents' responsibility, where possible, to provide this to you (UNCRC Article 18).

Your best interests should always be the top priority (UNCRC Article 3). Your parents will either talk to each other about how much child maintenance will be paid, or they will use the government's Child Maintenance Service, who will work out the amount for them.

In Scotland, if you're over 12 years old, you can arrange child maintenance yourself. However, it's important to ensure that this money is still used to cover your everyday living costs.

What if my parents don’t agree or have problems with Child Maintenance?

There are people out there to help families with Child Maintenance:

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is a government service in the UK that helps parents manage financial support when they don't live together. It ensures that children receive the money they need to cover their everyday living costs, such as food, clothing, and school supplies. The CMS can help with calculating amounts, collecting payments, and resolving disagreements.

Or you can contact One Parent Families Scotland national helpline 0808 801 0323 or find your local Citizens Advice Bureau Get advice | Citizens Advice Scotland

If your parents live in Fife, they can contact the Fife Gingerbread Child Maintenance Project Child Maintenance — Fife Gingerbread