(CMS) Opinions and Discussions For Reforms

RIGHT FIRST TIME ORGANISATION

We believe in fairness, equality, and proper support for children in all households.

Where parents are claiming benefits and Child Maintenance Service (CMS) payments are involved, the current system can create unfair financial pressures for shared-care families.

We believe:

• CMS payments should be recognised as part of total household income assessments.

• A fair percentage adjustment should be considered across Universal Credit, Child Benefit, and Housing support systems where appropriate.

• Where there is genuine shared care, financial support should reflect the child living in more than one household.

• Parents providing overnight care, food, clothing, heating, transport, and daily support should receive fair recognition within the benefits system.

• The current system can place unequal pressure on one household while ignoring the real cost of shared parenting arrangements.

• Better coordination is needed between CMS, DWP, Universal Credit, and housing systems to reduce poverty, conflict, debt, and financial hardship affecting children.

How This Affects the Public Every Day:

• Increased child poverty in shared-care households
• Financial stress on separated families
• Housing instability
• Mental health pressures
• Increased family conflict
• Greater reliance on food banks and crisis support
• Reduced ability for both parents to actively support children

We also believe the current Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) process is contributing to unnecessary stress for families and increasing costs to the public purse.

A Mandatory Reconsideration is often the result of a complaint, an administrative error, missing evidence, or a flawed decision. However, many claimants feel they are treated as though they are simply disagreeing without reason, or attempting to challenge the system unfairly.

In many cases, people are forced to proceed to tribunal simply to have evidence properly reviewed or obvious mistakes corrected.

This creates avoidable pressure on:
• HM Courts and Tribunals Service
• DWP staff resources
• public funding
• advice services
• mental health services
• families already under financial stress

Large numbers of tribunal decisions overturn original DWP decisions each year, particularly in disability-related cases such as PIP and ESA assessments. This raises serious concerns about decision-making quality and whether issues could be resolved correctly at the earliest stage — “Right First Time”.

We believe:
• complaints and errors should be recognised properly at Mandatory Reconsideration stage
• evidence should be fully reviewed before cases reach tribunal
• claimants should not feel criminalised for challenging incorrect decisions
• reducing avoidable tribunals would save significant public money each year
• early fair decision-making would improve trust, reduce hardship, and protect children and families from unnecessary stress

A fair and efficient system should focus on resolving mistakes early, not pushing vulnerable families into lengthy legal processes to obtain support they may already be entitled to.

We support reforms that place children first, recognise modern family arrangements, and create a balanced system that works fairly for all households involved in raising children.

Main Issues Highlighting

1. Shared Care Costs Money in Both Homes

Children often:

• sleep in both homes
• need clothes in both homes
• eat in both homes
• use heating/electricity in both homes

But the system often treats one household as the “main” household financially.

2. Child Maintenance vs Benefits Interaction

Some people argue:

• CMS payments are not always reflected fairly
• one household may receive:
  • CMS
  • UC child element
  • housing support
  • Child Benefit

while the other household still pays:

with out additional benefits support,

• bedrooms
• transport
• food
• activities

during shared care.

3. Public Impact

• poverty
• debt
• homelessness risk
• mental health
• pressure on public services

Having costly affects to.... 

• NHS pressure
• housing demand
• social services
• welfare spending

Important Legal Note

At present in UK law:

• CMS is NOT normally treated as taxable income
• Child Maintenance usually does NOT reduce Universal Credit directly
• Child Benefit normally goes to one main claimant household only

Shared care reductions in CMS are currently based mainly on:

• overnight stays

Official guidance:

CMS Shared Care Rules

Useful Organisations and Research

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice Benefits Help

Child Poverty Action Group

CPAG Child Maintenance Information

UK Parliament CMS Research

Parliament CMS Briefing

Cost of Raising a Child 

Raising 1 Child in the UK (LOW-INCOME WORKING FAMILY)

 (Child Benefit + Universal Credit child element) 

 Headlines vs reality

 Reported cost: around £229,000 (MEDIA FIGURES)

 Realistic cost (no childcare, basic living): 0-18 years

£90,000 – £110,000 

After government support (Child Benefit + Universal Credit child element) 

Support received: ~£75k–£80k

Actual out-of-pocket cost:

 £20,000 – £40,000 over 18 years 0-18        (Estimated Around 15k each parent 0-18)

WHAT FAMILIES ACTUALLY PAY FOR

This is the real spending, not inflated research assumptions:

 Main costs (majority of spending)

 Food → biggest cost over time

 Clothing & shoes

 School costs (uniform, trips, lunches)

 Transport (especially teens)

 Teen extras (phone, social life)

 Smaller costs

 Slight increase in bills

 Basic toys / replacements

 Occasional furniture/items

 NOT major costs (in real life for low-income families)

Childcare (if using family support) or benefit supported amounts

Big housing upgrades

Holidays / expensive activities

REAL COST IN SIMPLE TERMS

Over 18 years: 0 -18 

£20k–£40k total

 Monthly:

£90 – £180

 Weekly:

£20 – £40

BOTTOM LINE

Most low-income working families are mainly paying for:

Food + clothes + school + teen costs

Not the £229k headlines — that’s inflated by:

childcare

housing assumptions

lifestyle expectations

Reality:

Raising a child (without childcare) is manageable but steady, not extreme — and much of the basic cost is offset by support.

LEGAL NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER

Right First Time UK Organisation is an independent public-interest and awareness initiative.

The information, opinions, and statements published by this organisation are intended for public discussion, policy debate, research, campaigning, and educational purposes only.

Nothing published by Right First Time Organisation should be considered legal advice, financial advice, regulated welfare advice, or professional representation.

The organisation recognises that:
• Child Maintenance Service (CMS)
• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
• HM Courts and Tribunals Service
• Universal Credit
• Child Benefit
• Housing Benefit

operate under current UK legislation and statutory regulations.

Any views expressed regarding Mandatory Reconsiderations, tribunals, shared care, benefit assessments, public spending, or administrative processes are matters of public opinion, policy concern, and lawful public-interest commentary.

Right First Time Organisation does not accuse any individual, staff member, department, or authority of criminal wrongdoing unless determined by a court of law.

References to:
• unfairness
• system failures
• administrative errors
• complaints
• financial hardship
• stress caused by processes

are based on publicly reported experiences, tribunal outcomes, government statistics, public documents, and individual case concerns.

Users are encouraged to seek independent legal or welfare advice from qualified organisations where necessary, including:
• Citizens Advice
• legal professionals
• accredited welfare rights advisers

This organisation supports lawful, respectful, evidence-based discussion and encourages constructive reform aimed at improving outcomes for children, families, and the wider public.

All content remains subject to UK law including:
• Defamation Act 2013
• Data Protection Act 2018
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Equality Act 2010
• Freedom of Information Act 2000

By accessing or sharing this material, users acknowledge that the content represents public-interest opinion and campaigning material rather than official government guidance or legal determination.

Raising 1 Child in the UK (LOW-INCOME WORKING FAMILY)

(Child Benefit Only)

Parent works
Income or savings is too high for Universal Credit

• Universal Credit reduces gradually as earnings go up.
• After any work allowance, UC is reduced by 55p for every £1 earned.

Savings limits

These are strict:

• Over £6,000 savings → UC starts reducing
• £16,000+ savings → usually no Universal Credit entitlement

https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Still receives Child Benefit only 

• Between £60,000 and £80,000, you repay 1% of the benefit for every £200 earned above £60k.
• At £70,000, roughly half is repaid.
• At £80,000+, all of it is repaid.
  No paid childcare
  Basic lifestyle (not luxury spending)

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-charge?utm_source=chatgpt.com

HEADLINES vs REALITY

Media headlines:
“Child costs around £220k+ to raise A CHILD”

Real-world low-income/basic living reality:

0–18 years total:

£95,000 – £115,000

That’s the actual spending for:

• food
• clothes
• school
• transport
• teen costs
• household basics

NOT luxury lifestyles.

WHAT SUPPORT IS RECEIVED?

 IF Child Benefit ONLY

Current UK Child Benefit is approximately:

• First child:
  ~£26/week

Over 18 years:

£24,000 total support

(assuming rates rise slowly over time)

ACTUAL OUT-OF-POCKET COST

Total realistic spending:

£95k–£115k

Minus Child Benefit:

£24k support

REAL FAMILY COST:

£70,000 – £90,000 over 18 years

WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS

Monthly average:

£325 – £420 per month

Weekly:

£75 – £95 per week

That’s the real ongoing cost many working families feel.

WHAT THE MONEY ACTUALLY GOES ON

Biggest real costs

Food

Largest long-term expense

Clothes & shoes

Especially during growth spurts + teenage years

School costs

• uniforms
• trips
• lunches
• supplies

Transport

Bus/train costs rise a lot during teen years

Teen costs

Phones, internet, social life, activities

Smaller background costs

• electricity/gas increase
• toiletries
• replacing furniture/items
• toys/birthday gifts
• occasional household upgrades

WHAT OFTEN ISN’T A MAJOR COST

(For many low-income working families)

Childcare

If family/grandparents help

Bigger housing

Many families stay in same property

Expensive holidays

Usually limited or occasional

Private clubs/activities

Often avoided due to cost

WHY THE MEDIA AROUND £220k FIGURES LOOKS SO HIGH 

Those studies usually include:

• full-time nursery childcare
• larger homes/mortgages
• middle-class lifestyle spending
• holidays
• extracurricular activities
• cars upgraded for family size
• higher “expected” living standards

That inflates the number massively.

REALISTIC BOTTOM LINE

If a working parent:

• earns too much for Universal Credit
• still gets Child Benefit
• avoids childcare costs
• lives modestly

Then the real cost of raising 1 child is closer to:

£70k–£90k total over 18 years

Which feels more like:

£75–£95 per week

—not £220k headlines.

SUMMARY

For many ordinary working UK families, raising a child is usually a steady long-term expense — mainly food, clothes, school and teen costs — rather than an extreme £200k+ burden.

DISCLAIMER ABOUT THESE FIGURES

These figures are estimated examples, not exact guaranteed costs for every family.

They are based on:

• UK government benefit rates
• public research on child-raising costs
• simplified budgeting assumptions
• typical low-income family spending patterns

Actual costs vary depending on:

• income
• rent/housing situation
• childcare use
• number of children
• region of the UK
• lifestyle choices
• inflation and future policy changes

Sources Used

Research on child-raising costs

• Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)
  Widely quoted UK estimates for the cost of raising a child.

UK government benefit rates

• Child Benefit rates (GOV.UK)
• Universal Credit child element (GOV.UK)

Important Context

The lower estimates shown here:

• remove or reduce childcare costs
• assume modest/basic living
• assume some government support is received
• are intended to reflect realistic cash spending for many lower-income households

Official research figures are usually much higher because they often include:

• childcare
• larger housing needs
• social participation costs
• broader “minimum acceptable living standard” assumptions

These examples are:

simplified financial illustrations,

not official financial advice or exact predictions.

Real family experiences and costs can differ significantly.

Right First time UK Opinion on Child Maintenance Reform

A fair child maintenance system should focus on:

• the child’s wellbeing
• affordability for both parents
• reducing conflict after separation
• and creating stable support for children.

The current system can sometimes feel unfair or unrealistic when:

• a parent is on benefits,
• has very high essential outgoings,
• debts,
• disability costs,
• housing pressures,
• or shared care responsibilities.

Suggested Simpler Approach

before any organisation or government service involvement.

mediation first: help resolve conflict and come to agreement:

ware agreement cant be met on amounts  

Set affordable amounts to contribute to the other parent with whom has majority of care :

ware agreement between parents, mediation agreements or court orders. 

Set affordable repayment amounts based on:

• actual income
• essential outgoings
• housing costs
• debts and financial hardship
• benefits received
• shared care arrangements

rather than relying mainly on fixed percentage calculations alone.

Why this could help

Fairer for low-income parents

Parents on:

• Universal Credit
• disability benefits
• low wages
• unstable work

could pay an amount that is realistic and sustainable.

This may reduce:

• arrears building up
• enforcement action
• financial hardship
• parents disengaging from children.

Easier to enforce

A clear agreed affordable amount:

• is simpler to manage,
• easier to track,
• and reduces calculation disputes.

This could lower:

• CMS errors,
• reassessments,
• appeals,
• and administrative problems.

Helps children most

When payments are realistic:

• children are more likely to receive consistent support,
• conflict between separated parents can reduce,
• and children benefit emotionally and financially.

Child Equality Matters

Children should not experience major inequality simply because parents separate.

A balanced system should aim to:

• maintain stable support,
• encourage both parents to stay involved,
• and avoid pushing either household into severe hardship.

Shared Care Should Be Properly Recognised

Where shared care exists, costs are shared too:

• food
• clothes
• heating
• transport
• bedrooms
• activities

So reductions linked to overnight care can help reflect real shared parenting responsibilities.

Overall Opinion

A more flexible and income-aware child maintenance system could:

• improve fairness,
• reduce conflict,
• increase compliance,
• reduce enforcement costs,
• and better support children’s long-term wellbeing.

The goal should not simply be maximising payments,
but creating:

stable, affordable, consistent support that works for both households and ultimately benefits the child most.

Disclaimer:

This is a simplified opinion's and discussion's of possible approaches to child maintenance and family support in the UK.

It is:

• not legal advice,
• not official government policy,
• and not financial advice.

Child maintenance in the UK is currently governed by the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) and calculated under existing legislation and regulations.

The examples and views discussed are intended to explain:

• affordability,
• shared care,
• benefit interactions,
• and possible fairness considerations

in a simplified way.

Actual child maintenance outcomes depend on:

• income,
• benefits,
• shared care arrangements,
• housing costs,
• other children,
• disabilities,
• debts,
• and individual circumstances.

Government support and benefit rates may also change over time.

For official guidance, calculations, or legal advice, consult:

• GOV.UK Child Maintenance
• Citizens Advice
• a qualified legal or financial adviser.