Children Paying the Price: Families Call for Urgent Child Maintenance Reform

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Families across the UK are calling for reform to the child maintenance system and greater recognition of post-separation challenges within family courts, because the evidence highlights the ongoing financial and emotional impact on children.

Public debate often focuses on those who fail to pay. But another reality is emerging, one in which system gaps, complex financial structures, and inconsistent support leave some children without the stability they need.

“Children Deserve Stability”

An autistic parent raising two autistic children said:-

“In my experience, broken agreements, financial instability, and gaps in the system can push vulnerable children into poverty. Children deserve stability, not a system that allows these gaps to persist.”

“Gaps in the system and inconsistent support can leave vulnerable children struggling. Stability shouldn’t depend on loopholes or delays.”

The Scale of the Issue

Data from the Office for National Statistics indicates:-

• 3.8 million adults experienced domestic abuse in the year ending March 2025

• Around 1 in 4 people may experience domestic abuse in their lifetime

• Over 49,000 coercive control offences have been recorded in England and Wales

Research from Gingerbread and other organisations suggests:-

• Around 26% of paying parents in certain arrangements contribute no maintenance

• There has been over £700 million in child maintenance arrears since 2012

• Some parents report delays, inconsistent payments, or underpayment

These figures point to a system that, while functioning in many cases, does not always deliver consistent outcomes for children.

Post-Separation Challenges Don’t End

Evidence from charities and researchers indicates that difficulties can continue after separation, sometimes involving:-

• Financial and economic pressures

• Ongoing legal disputes

• Disagreements around child arrangements

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 recognises economic abuse, whilst the Children Act 1989 makes clear that a child’s welfare must be the court’s paramount consideration.

However, some campaigners argue that these protections are not always applied consistently in practice.

The Impact on Children

Children are the ones who feel the consequences the most:-

• Disrupted routines

• Reduced access to support services

• Increased emotional stress

For children with additional needs, including autism and ADHD, stability is not optional, it is essential.

Calls for Reform

Some campaigners are also proposing the introduction of a minimum child maintenance threshold, suggesting that:-

A baseline contribution such as £300 per month, per child, could be considered in certain cases.

This may be particularly relevant where income is complex or difficult to assess, for example in cases involving small businesses, self-employment, company directorships, or shareholding arrangements.

Any approach should remain proportionate and take overall financial circumstances into account, including prior settlements, assets, and existing obligations

As one parent explains:-

“There needs to be a conversation about minimum standards. In some cases, a baseline level of support, such as £300 per child, could help ensure children aren’t left without essential stability. But any reform must be fair, balanced, and reflect real financial circumstances.”

Balancing Pressures Across Families

Campaigners highlight the importance of a balanced system that considers:-

• Challenges faced by receiving parents when payments are delayed or inconsistent

• Pressures on paying parents, particularly where significant financial settlements have already been made

• The complexity of assessing income in non-traditional or variable earning structures

This is not a one-sided issue, it is a system-wide challenge requiring a balanced response.

A Call for Fairness

Campaigners emphasise that this is not about one parent versus another.

“It’s about ensuring that children have stability, and that systems reflect the realities families face.”

Conclusion

Children should not experience instability because of gaps in the systems that were designed to support them. Reform must focus on:-

• Fairness

• Transparency

• Consistency

• And above all, the welfare of children

Because when systems fail to reflect real life, it is children who pay the price.

Sources

• Source: Office for National Statistics (2025)

• Source: Gingerbread reports on single-parent families and CMS

• Domestic Abuse Act 2021

• Children Act 1989

  
  
  
  

#ChildMaintenanceReform, #SupportOurChildren, #FamilyCourtReform, #EndFinancialAbuse, #FairnessForFamilies

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Deanna Newell Family Law

Advocacy for truth-tellers, survivors, and the children who deserve better