Child Maintenance Service
The Child Maintenance Service works out child maintenance, arranges payments and takes action if a parent does not pay. If you pay child maintenance and cannot pay in full and on time, or have missed a payment, GOV.UK says to contact it.
Good to know
GOV.UK says that if you pay through the service (Collect and Pay) and do not pay in full and on time, it can make deductions directly from your pay, pension or benefits, take money from your bank account, or get a court order, and a fee is charged when it does. There are laws about how much it can collect: you must be left with enough money to live on, and pay priority debts first, such as mortgage repayments, rent, utility bills, taxes and court fines. You can stop court action by contacting it and agreeing to pay what you owe. Its guidance for employers says a deduction has to leave you with at least 60% of your net earnings. GOV.UK gives a different phone number for Northern Ireland. The Welsh language line is 0800 232 1979. The Department for Communities website lists the Northern Ireland Child Maintenance Service on 0800 232 1956, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Before you call
They can
- be contacted if you cannot pay in full and on time, or have missed a payment: GOV.UK says to contact it, and to report any change in your income or circumstances
- take a request to look again at a decision about your child maintenance amount (a mandatory reconsideration), which GOV.UK says you must ask for within one month of that decision
- be contacted through your online account, by phone or by post
They cannot
- be reached on this number from Northern Ireland: the Department for Communities website lists 0800 232 1956 for the Northern Ireland Child Maintenance Service
In the emergency guides: Money is being taken from my wages →
- Phone
- 0800 171 2345
- Website
- https://www.gov.uk/child-maintenance-service/contact
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
- Coverage
- Great Britain
- Languages
- English, Welsh
- Last checked
- October 10, 2026
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