Parent voices

Mummy’s phone

‘Mummy’s Phone‘ is a poem written by a parent in the Single Parent Expert Group for Transforming Child Maintenance. It captures the emotional impact of watching a parent struggle to navigate the Child Maintenance Service. It reminds us that behind every policy decision are children who feel the effects.

Kira’s story 

Kira is a single mother to her three-year-old son. She talks about the difficulties dealing with the Child Maintenance Service, ranging from lack of consistent support to delays and errors in maintenance calcuations.

Parent blog – why child maintenance matters

This blog is written by one of the single parents who is part of a ‘Single Parent Expert Group’ that worked alongside the the Transforming Child Maintenance project to co-produce the recommendations to reform the child maintenance system.

Hamish*

Hamish* has one child who lives mostly with her mother. He recently separated from his ex-partner. Due to his work patterns, he struggles to see his child as much as he would like to. He also takes issue with the financial arrangements.

Chloe*

Chloe has two young children with her ex partner. As a survivor or domestic abuse, she contacted the Child Maintenance Service to arrange financial support. Despite having evidence her ex partner was self employed and earning a high income, the CMS calculated maintenance payments based on him earning minimum wage. After attempting to resolve the issue with CMS staff, Chloe took the case to tribunal and the case was ruled in her favour.

*pseudonym
  Read Chloe's story

Gemma*

Gemma* is a single mum and a survivor of domestic abuse. She has a 12 year old son. She went to tribunal after the Child Maintenance Service ‘nil’ assessed her ex partner, despite her providing evidence of earnings.

*pseudonym