Child maintenance is financial support paid by one parent to another to help cover the cost of raising a child when the parents do not live together.
Payments can be arranged privately between parents, or through the government’s Child Maintenance Service (CMS) where an agreement cannot be reached.
Child maintenance is not classed as a public fund for immigration purposes. It can be accessed regardless of immigration status, including where a parent is subject to the no recourse to public funds (NRPF) condition.
Page updated: 12 June 2026
