Article · Updated 07/07/2026 — this page is maintained as reforms progress

Reform tracker

The child maintenance system is in its biggest period of change since 2012. This page tracks each reform from announcement to law, so you can see what applies now versus what is still proposal.

In force

Announced, not yet in force

The end of Direct Pay (target: 2027-28)

On 23 June 2025 the Government confirmed, responding to the 2024 "Improving the collection and transfer of payments" consultation, that Direct Pay will be abolished. Compliant Direct Pay cases are to be supported into family-based arrangements; all other cases move to Collect & Pay. Collection fees are to be restructured at the same time: 2% for all users, with 20% retained for non-compliant paying parents. Primary legislation is required; the Government aims for 2027-28. The Lords Public Services Committee has publicly doubted the CMS's capacity to absorb the caseload without service deteriorating.

What it means for you now: nothing changes yet. If you are on Direct Pay and compliant, keep records demonstrating compliance — the sorting of cases into "compliant" and "other" will matter.

Administrative liability orders (regulations awaited)

The 2023 Act lets the CMS make liability orders itself — no court application — cutting the route to serious enforcement from roughly 22 weeks to 6–8. Planned safeguards: 7 days' notice (paying the arrears in that window stops the order) and a right of appeal against the order. As at January 2026 the enabling regulations had not been laid, though the Government has said it will introduce them "as soon as possible". Until then, liability orders still go through the magistrates' court. Enforcement powers covers the current position.

Reform of the calculation itself (consultation promised)

The Government committed to consult on changes to the maintenance calculation from late 2025 — responding to sustained criticism, sharpened by the Lords committee, that the formula is outdated, opaque, and blind to much of a parent's true resources. As at mid-2026 no published consultation outcome has changed the formula; the current rules stand. This is the reform with the largest potential effect on every case — watch this space.

Parliamentary scrutiny: the pressure behind the reforms