Police Child
Maintenance Calculator
Work out child maintenance the way the Child Maintenance Service does, on police basic pay, overtime and allowances, after pension contributions, with shared care and other children in your home. For the parent who pays and the parent who receives.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 19 October 2026 · England and Wales unless stated
The CMS takes the paying parent's taxable pay for the latest tax year HMRC holds, after police pension contributions but before tax and National Insurance, so overtime and allowances count. For gross weekly income of £200 to £3,000 it charges 12%, 16% or 19% of the first £800 (1, 2, or 3 or more children) and 9%, 12% or 15% of the rest, then takes off a share for each night the children stay with the paying parent.
Police child maintenance calculator
Enter the paying parent's basic pay and last tax year's overtime and allowances, the number of children, the nights a year they stay with the paying parent, and any other children living with the paying parent. The calculator uses the CMS 2012 formula with the 2026/27 police pension contribution rates.
Your details (the parent who pays)
The Child Maintenance Service works out what the parent who does not have the children most of the time pays. Enter that parent's pay.
Pensionable pay on your payslip before deductions.
Overtime, on-call, unsocial hours, London or South East allowance. Use last tax year's total if you can.
Sets the pension contribution taken off before the CMS counts your income.
Children with your former partner.
An average over the year. Shift patterns that swap weeks still count by the year.
For example a new partner's children or your own with someone else. Child Benefit must be paid for them.
Child Maintenance Service estimate
A week
£111.67
A month (average)
£485
A year
£5,823
- Taxable pay a year (pay less pension contributions)
- £50,795
- Gross weekly income the CMS uses
- £974.16
- Basic rate before shared care
- £111.67 a week
- Fewer than 52 nights: no shared care reduction
- £0.00
- You pay
- £111.67 a week
Overtime and allowances add about £10.36 a week to this. The CMS uses the latest tax year HMRC holds, not this month's overtime. If your income has changed by 25% or more since then, either parent can ask for it to be recalculated on current income.
Go further with your own figures
Turn these estimates into a plan you can take to a solicitor
Police Separation Money Plan · £19.99
Both households side by side, child maintenance both ways, whether you can buy out the house, and what happens if overtime drops. With a PDF.
See the planPolice Divorce Pension Report · £49.99
Your pension at every share, the lump sum before and after, the part built up during the marriage, when each part is paid, what your former partner gets, offsetting figures and the questions for your solicitor. With a PDF.
See the reportPolice Divorce Pack: both, plus the Pension Command Centre, £59.99 (worth £116.98 separately)
The Command Centre models your whole police pension to retirement, so you can see life after the settlement. One payment, no subscription. 12 months on the report and plan; the Command Centre is yours to keep.
Estimates and general information, not legal, financial or mortgage advice.
Free enquiry
Want help with maintenance and the rest of the settlement?
Child maintenance is only one part. Tell us where you are and we will reply, and if you want, introduce you to a family-law firm that understands police pay and pensions.
The CMS works out the real figure from HMRC's records and the information both parents give. The calculator assumes the same shared care pattern for every child and the basic rate (the rate every serving officer on full-time pay will be on). The enquiry form under the calculator sends your enquiry to PolicePay (Andrew Thomas); it does not book a free call or give legal advice.
The CMS formula, in plain English
Child maintenance in Great Britain is worked out under Schedule 1 to the Child Support Act 1991, as changed for the 2012 scheme. The paying parent's gross weekly income sets which rate applies.
| Rate | Paying parent's gross weekly income | What is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Nil rate | Under £7 | Nothing |
| Flat rate | £7 to £100, or on certain benefits | £7 a week |
| Reduced rate | Over £100 and under £200 | A sliding amount set by regulations |
| Basic rate | £200 to £3,000 | 12% (1 child), 16% (2) or 19% (3 or more) of the first £800, plus 9%, 12% or 15% of the rest up to £3,000 |
| Above the cap | Over £3,000 | Income above £3,000 a week is ignored; the receiving parent can ask a court for a top-up |
A serving police officer on full-time pay is on the basic rate. The basic rate has two bands, and the percentages depend on how many children the calculation is for:
| Qualifying children | On the first £800 a week | On £800 to £3,000 a week | Relevant other children reduction (applied to income first) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12% | 9% | 1 other child: 11% |
| 2 | 16% | 12% | 2 other children: 14% |
| 3 or more | 19% | 15% | 3 or more other children: 16% |
The calculation runs in this order: gross weekly income; less the reduction for any other children living with the paying parent; capped at £3,000; the basic rate applied; then the shared care reduction. GOV.UK says the payment "cannot go below £7 a week" after shared care.
If the CMS does not have the paying parent's income, GOV.UK lists default weekly rates of £38, £51 and £64 for 1, 2 and 3 or more children until it does. These are placeholders, not the formula.
Which police income the CMS uses
The Child Support Maintenance Calculation Regulations 2012 (Part 4) set out the income used:
- Historic income by default. The figure HMRC holds for the latest available tax year (regs 35 and 36). For an employee, that is taxable earnings, which includes taxable overtime, rest day working and allowances.
- After pension contributions. Police pension contributions come off before tax under a net pay arrangement, so the HMRC figure is already net of them. That is why the calculator asks for your scheme.
- Current income only after a 25% change. If current income differs from the historic figure by at least 25% of it, the CMS uses current income instead (reg 34(2)(a)).
- Weekly. Yearly income is turned into a weekly figure by multiplying by 7 and dividing by 365.
| Police pay item | Counted by the CMS? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Basic pay | Yes | After the pension contribution, which is taken under a net pay arrangement |
| Overtime and rest day working | Yes, as taxable earnings | The detail, including averaging, is in the overtime guide |
| London Weighting, South East allowance, other location payments | Yes, as taxable earnings | Location payments are taxable whether or not they are pensionable |
| On-call and unsocial hours allowances | Yes, as taxable earnings | They vary month to month, like overtime |
| Acting or temporary duty allowance | Yes, as taxable earnings | Can count towards a 25% change if it starts or stops |
| Police pension contributions | Taken off | So the CMS figure is lower than your gross pay |
For everything about overtime (whether rest day working counts, how averaging works for current income, what happens when overtime spikes for a big operation, and when to ask for a recalculation), read child maintenance and police overtime. This page keeps to the calculation.
Worked example, step by step
An illustration, not a real case: a constable at the top of the 2026/27 England and Wales scale, earning £52,015 basic pay, with £6,000 of overtime and allowances in the last tax year, paying for two children who do not stay overnight, and no other children at home. Every figure is computed by the calculator's engine.
- Pension contribution. £52,015 is in the 13.88% band from 1 April 2026, so the contribution is £7,219.68 a year.
- Taxable pay. £52,015 + £6,000 − £7,219.68 = £50,795.32 a year.
- Gross weekly income. £50,795.32 x 7 / 365 = £974.16 a week.
- First band. 16% (two children) of the first £800 = £128.00.
- Second band. 12% of the remaining £174.16 = £20.90.
- Weekly maintenance. £128.00 + £20.90 = £148.90 a week, about £647 a month or £7,764 a year.
Of that, the £6,000 of overtime and allowances adds £13.81 a week. Overtime is charged at the lower second-band rate here because basic pay alone already fills the first £800 band (£859.09 a week on basic pay after pension).
Some worked examples divide yearly pay by 52 and forget the pension contribution. Both make the figure higher. The CMS uses 7/365 and taxable pay after the contribution.
Constable examples with and without overtime
Illustrations computed with the calculator's engine: a constable at the top of the scale (£52,015, 13.88% pension contribution), no shared care, no other children at home, Direct Pay.
| Overtime and allowances a year | Taxable pay the CMS uses | 1 child | 2 children | 3 or more children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| None (basic pay only) | £44,795 | £101.32 a week (£440 a month) | £135.09 a week (£587 a month) | £160.86 a week (£699 a month) |
| £6,000 | £50,795 | £111.67 a week (£485 a month) | £148.90 a week (£647 a month) | £178.12 a week (£774 a month) |
| £12,000 | £56,795 | £122.03 a week (£530 a month) | £162.71 a week (£707 a month) | £195.38 a week (£849 a month) |
Going from no overtime to £12,000 a year adds £27.62 a week for two children (£135.09 to £162.71). For comparison, a sergeant at the top of the scale (£58,175, 13.88% contribution) with no overtime would pay £147.30 a week for two children: overtime can make a constable's figure higher than a sergeant's.
Monthly figures are averages (weekly x 365 / 7 / 12). The CMS sets a weekly amount and a payment schedule; it does not change with this month's overtime.
By rank and pay point, basic pay only
The same formula across the ranks, for two children with no overtime, no shared care and no other children at home. Pay is the 2026/27 England and Wales scale; the pension rate is the 2015 scheme band for that pay. Computed with the calculator's engine.
| Rank and pay point | Basic pay | Pension rate | Two children, a week | Two children, a month (average) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable, pay point 1 (new recruit) | £32,255 | 12.88% | £86.23 | £375 |
| Constable, pay point 4 | £36,335 | 12.88% | £97.13 | £422 |
| Constable, top of the scale | £52,015 | 13.88% | £135.09 | £587 |
| Sergeant, top of the scale | £58,175 | 13.88% | £147.30 | £640 |
| Inspector, top of the scale (outside London) | £71,396 | 13.88% | £173.50 | £754 |
Add overtime, location payments and allowances to these figures for most officers: each extra £1,000 a year of taxable pay adds roughly £2.30 a week for two children once basic pay has filled the first £800 band (12% of £1,000 x 7 / 365). Use the calculator for your own pay.
The 25% rule: when this year's pay replaces last year's
The CMS sticks with the HMRC figure for the latest tax year unless current income differs from it by at least 25% of the historic figure (SI 2012/2677 reg 34(2)(a)). GOV.UK lists "an income change of 25% or more" as a change either parent can report, and says changes should be reported as soon as they happen. It also reviews each case every year with new HMRC figures.
Overtime stops, smaller drop. Last tax year's taxable pay with £12,000 of overtime: £56,795. This year, no overtime: £44,795. The fall is 21.1% of the historic figure, under 25%, so the CMS keeps using the historic figure and maintenance stays at £162.71 a week.
Overtime stops, bigger drop. Last tax year with £18,000 of overtime: £62,795. This year, none: £44,795. The fall is 28.7%, over 25%, so current income can be used and maintenance would fall from £176.52 to £135.09 a week.
It works both ways. If the paying parent's income rises by 25% or more, for example after promotion plus heavy overtime, the receiving parent can report it. The CMS looks for a change that is likely to last, and needs a single taxable gross income figure as evidence, from the employer or a tax return.
Because police overtime goes up and down, timing matters. The overtime guide explains how current income is averaged and what evidence helps.
Other children living with the paying parent
If the paying parent has other children living with them (their own with a new partner, or a partner's children) and the paying parent or their partner receives Child Benefit for them (para 10C), the CMS first reduces gross weekly income by 11% for one such child, 14% for two and 16% for three or more (Sch 1 para 2(3)).
Illustration: the same constable with £6,000 overtime and two qualifying children, plus one other child at home. Income for the calculation falls from £974.16 to £867.00 a week, and maintenance from £148.90 to £136.04 a week.
The reduction does not depend on what the other children cost, and the calculation is per family: a paying parent with children by more than one former partner has the amount divided by the number of qualifying children and shared between the parents with care (para 6).
Fees: Direct Pay, Collect and Pay, and the application fee
- No application fee. The £20 fee was removed from 26 February 2024 by SI 2024/87.
- Direct Pay. The CMS works out the amount and the paying parent pays the receiving parent directly. There are no collection fees.
- Collect and Pay. The CMS collects from the paying parent (from earnings, a bank account, or benefits or pension) and passes it on. The paying parent pays 20% on top; the receiving parent has 4% taken off. If a paying parent does not pay in full and on time, the CMS can move the case to Collect and Pay.
Illustration: two children, £6,000 overtime. Under Direct Pay the payment is £148.90 a week. Under Collect and Pay the paying parent pays £178.68 (about £1,553 a year more) and the receiving parent gets £142.94 (about £311 a year less).
A 2024 DWP consultation proposed removing Direct Pay and moving every case into one collection service, with a 2% fee for receiving parents and paying parents who pay on time and the 20% fee kept for those who do not. Ministers have since said they intend to legislate, which needs Parliament. As at 19 October 2026 GOV.UK still shows Direct Pay with no fees and Collect and Pay at 20% and 4%, and we could not confirm a start date for any change.
The £3,000 cap and court top-ups
Gross weekly income above £3,000 is ignored (Sch 1 para 10(3)). That is about £156,429 a year of taxable pay, above every federated rank's pay scale, so in practice it matters only for the most senior officers or where there is large other income.
Above the cap, a court can order a top-up on top of the CMS amount if it is satisfied the circumstances make it appropriate (Child Support Act 1991 s.8(6)). GOV.UK says the receiving parent "can apply to the courts for extra child maintenance".
What the CMS figure does not cover
Where the CMS can make a calculation, courts generally cannot make child maintenance orders (s.8(3)). But section 8 keeps some costs with the courts, and some costs are simply outside the formula.
| Cost or situation | Covered by the CMS calculation? | How it is usually dealt with |
|---|---|---|
| Day-to-day costs of the children | Yes | The weekly CMS amount |
| Income above £3,000 a week | No | A court top-up order (Child Support Act 1991 s.8(6)) |
| School fees and the cost of education or training | No | A court order made solely for those costs (s.8(7)), or agreement |
| Extra costs from a child's disability | No | A court order made solely for those costs (s.8(8)), or agreement |
| Spousal maintenance for the former partner | No | Agreement or a court order, not the CMS |
| Childcare, clubs, phones, extras | Not separately | Agreement between you; the CMS amount is a single figure |
Court orders and the CMS. A court can make a child maintenance order that matches a written agreement (s.8(5)), which is how consent orders include child maintenance. But under s.4(10)(aa) a maintenance order made since the rules changed in 2003 blocks a CMS application only while it has been in force for less than a year. After that, either parent can apply to the CMS.
Spousal maintenance is a separate question, decided by agreement or the court. See spousal maintenance on police pay.
Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland. The Child Support Act 1991 and the Child Maintenance Service cover Scotland as well as England and Wales, and mygov.scot points parents to the CMS. The formula is the same. What differs for a Police Scotland officer is the pension contribution (Police Scotland has its own rates), which changes the taxable pay the CMS uses; the calculator's Scotland setting allows for that.
Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has its own Child Maintenance Service, run by the Department for Communities, with a formula that mirrors Great Britain's. PSNI officers should check nidirect for the process. The calculator is built on the Great Britain rules.
Police-specific points
- Big overtime years carry forward. Because the CMS uses the latest tax year HMRC holds, a year with heavy overtime (a major operation, a summer of events) can set the figure for the year after, unless income then falls by 25% or more.
- Promotion and pay awards. A promotion or the annual pay award does not change the figure by itself until the annual review, unless it takes income up by 25% or more.
- Pension contribution bands. The 2015 scheme bands changed on 1 April 2026 (12.88%, 13.88%, 14.22%), so a figure worked out on older rates will be slightly off.
- Part-time and career breaks. Reduced hours lower basic pay and the pension contribution together; a big enough cut can cross the 25% line.
- Collect and Pay from police pay. If a case is on Collect and Pay, the CMS can take payment from earnings, which means through force payroll.
Planning your own budget around maintenance? The divorce budget calculator uses the same CMS engine, and the paid Police Separation Money Plan (£19.99) models both households, overtime scenarios and the 25% rule in a PDF.
Ways to arrange child maintenance, side by side
The CMS figure is a benchmark whichever route you use. Parents can agree an amount privately and use the CMS only if that breaks down.
| Family-based arrangement | CMS Direct Pay | CMS Collect and Pay | Court order | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who sets the amount | You both | The CMS formula | The CMS formula | The court, usually matching what you agree |
| Fees | None | None | 20% added for the paying parent, 4% off for the receiving parent | Court fee for the financial order |
| Flexible for overtime and rotas | As flexible as you agree | Formula, reviewed yearly or after a 25% change | Same as Direct Pay | Fixed until varied |
| Enforcement if payments stop | None directly; either parent can then apply to the CMS | Either parent can ask the CMS to move to Collect and Pay | The CMS collects, including from earnings | Through the court; and after a year either parent can go to the CMS |
| Covers school fees and extras | If you include them | No | No | Yes, if the order includes them |
If you are the parent who receives maintenance
- Use last tax year's figures. If you know the officer's basic pay and roughly how much overtime they did in the last tax year, the calculator gives the figure the CMS is likely to reach. A payslip shows basic pay, but overtime varies by month, so the P60 total is the better guide.
- Increases work through the same rule. If the paying parent's income has gone up by 25% or more (promotion, a move to a role with on-call or heavy overtime), you can report it. Otherwise the annual review picks it up.
- Fees come off your side too. On Collect and Pay you lose 4%. Direct Pay avoids that when payments arrive on time.
- Extras need agreeing separately. School trips, clubs, childcare and school fees are outside the CMS figure. Put them into the financial agreement or order.
- The pension is a separate question. Child maintenance does not affect your claim to a share of the police pension. See the police pension divorce calculator and divorcing a police officer.
When the paying parent is not the police officer
Police officers receive child maintenance too. The formula is the same whoever pays; only the income changes. If the paying parent is not a police officer, the CMS uses their own taxable income from HMRC (after any pension contributions under a net pay arrangement), and the shared care rules apply in the same way, counting the nights the children spend with them across your rota.
The calculator is set up for police pay, because it applies the police pension contribution. For a paying parent in another job the pension deduction will be different, so treat the calculator's figure as a rough guide and check it with the CMS.
Records to keep
Police pay changes a lot from month to month, so the records matter more than for most employees. Whichever side you are on, these make a recalculation or a dispute much easier.
| Keep | Why |
|---|---|
| P60 for each tax year | Shows the taxable pay HMRC holds, the figure the CMS starts from |
| Monthly payslips for at least the last 12 months | Shows overtime, allowances and pension contributions month by month, and supports a 25% change |
| Overtime and duty records (rest days cancelled, operations) | Explains why one year was unusually high or low |
| Letters confirming promotion, acting rank, part-time hours or a career break | Evidence that a change is likely to last |
| A written record of the overnight care pattern across the rota | Shared care is counted in nights a year from an order or agreement |
| Child Benefit letters for other children in your home | The other children reduction depends on Child Benefit being received |
How child maintenance fits the rest of the settlement
Child maintenance is worked out separately from the division of the house, savings and pension, but it affects all of them in practice.
- Mortgages. FCA rules require lenders to take account of committed expenditure, and the FCA's guidance lists child maintenance as an example (MCOB 11.6.11G). Maintenance you pay reduces what you can borrow; maintenance you receive may or may not be counted as income, depending on the lender. The divorce budget calculator shows the effect.
- Spousal maintenance is decided after needs, including the children's, are looked at. See spousal maintenance on police pay.
- The house. Where the children live affects who needs the family home. See police divorce and housing.
- Form E. Both parents' incomes, including overtime, go on Form E in a financial case. See Form E for police officers.
What to do, step by step
| Step | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Use the calculator with your basic pay and last tax year's overtime and allowances | The CMS starts from the latest tax year HMRC holds |
| 2 | Work out the nights a year the children stay with the paying parent, across the whole shift cycle | Shared care bands are by nights a year |
| 3 | Try to agree an amount privately (a family-based arrangement), using the CMS figure as a guide | No fees and more flexibility; you can still apply to the CMS later |
| 4 | If you cannot agree, apply to the CMS | No application fee since 26 February 2024 |
| 5 | Choose Direct Pay if you can | No collection fees; Collect and Pay adds 20% and takes 4% |
| 6 | Keep payslips and P60s; report a 25% change in income as soon as it happens | The CMS can recalculate on current income |
| 7 | Put school fees, extras and any spousal maintenance into the financial agreement or order | The CMS amount does not cover them |
What the calculator does not do, and what we could not verify
- It covers the basic rate only. Below £200 a week gross it stops and says so; the reduced rate is not modelled.
- It assumes one shared care pattern for every child; the CMS works it out child by child.
- It does not split the amount where the paying parent has children with more than one other parent.
- It does not model the £7 a week minimum after shared care, which no full-time officer's figure reaches.
- It does not deal with unearned income, self-employment, benefits, or the CMS "variations" for special expenses or extra income.
- We could not confirm when, or whether, the proposed removal of Direct Pay and the new fee structure will take effect, or how the CMS treats a Federation subscription when working out income.
Myths and facts
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| "Child maintenance is worked out on take-home pay." | It is worked out on gross taxable income, after police pension contributions but before tax and National Insurance. |
| "Overtime doesn't count because it isn't guaranteed." | Taxable overtime is part of the income HMRC holds, so it counts. How a drop is handled depends on the 25% rule. |
| "If I do less overtime this month, my payment drops next month." | Not automatically. The CMS uses the latest tax year HMRC holds unless current income differs by 25% or more. |
| "Shift work means shared care can't count." | Shared care is counted by nights a year, based on a court order or what the parents agree, whatever the shift pattern. |
| "There's a £20 fee to apply." | The application fee was removed from 26 February 2024. |
| "Collect and Pay costs the same as Direct Pay." | Collect and Pay adds 20% for the paying parent and takes 4% from the receiving parent. Direct Pay has no fees. |
| "A court order stops the CMS for good." | A court order made since the 2003 changes blocks a CMS application only for its first year; after that either parent can apply. |
Anything here out of date? Our corrections policy explains how to tell us.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does police overtime count for child maintenance?
Yes. The CMS uses the paying parent's taxable earnings, and overtime, rest day working and taxable allowances are taxable earnings. By default it uses the latest tax year HMRC holds, so this year's overtime only matters if income has changed by 25% or more. The overtime guide covers averaging and recalculation in detail.
How much child maintenance does a police officer pay?
On our illustration, a constable at the top of the 2026/27 scale (£52,015) with no overtime and no shared care would pay about £135.09 a week for two children under the CMS formula, or £148.90 with £6,000 a year of overtime and allowances. Shared care, other children in the home and the number of children change the figure.
Is child maintenance worked out on gross or net pay?
On gross taxable income: pay before income tax and National Insurance, but after pension contributions taken under a net pay arrangement, which is how police pension contributions are deducted. So a police officer's CMS income is lower than their gross salary by roughly the pension contribution.
Do police pension contributions reduce child maintenance?
Yes, indirectly. Contributions to a registered pension scheme are deducted from income, and police contributions already come off before tax. In 2026/27 a constable at the top of the scale contributes 13.88% of basic pay, about £7,220 a year, so the CMS counts £44,795 of basic pay rather than £52,015.
Which year's income does the CMS use?
Historic income: the figure HMRC holds for the latest available tax year. The CMS switches to current income only if it differs from that by at least 25%. It also reviews the case every year with fresh HMRC figures.
My overtime has stopped. Can I get my child maintenance reduced?
Only if your current income is at least 25% lower than the historic figure the CMS is using. On our illustration for a top-scale constable, losing £12,000 a year of overtime is a 21.1% fall and does not cross the line, while losing £18,000 is 28.7% and does. Report the change with evidence such as recent payslips; the CMS looks for a change likely to last.
How does shared care work with police shift patterns?
The CMS counts nights a year the children stay overnight with the paying parent, based on a court order or what the parents agree. 52 to 103 nights takes off one-seventh, 104 to 155 two-sevenths, 156 to 174 three-sevenths, and 175 or more half plus £7 a week for each child. Average the nights across the whole rota cycle.
Is there a fee to use the Child Maintenance Service?
Not to apply: the £20 application fee was removed from 26 February 2024. Direct Pay, where the CMS works out the amount and you pay each other, has no fees. Collect and Pay, where the CMS collects and passes on the money, adds 20% for the paying parent and takes 4% from the receiving parent.
Should we use Direct Pay or Collect and Pay?
Direct Pay has no fees, so it is cheaper for both parents when payments are made on time. The CMS can move a case to Collect and Pay if the paying parent does not pay in full and on time. The government has said it intends to legislate to remove Direct Pay and change fees, but as at 19 October 2026 GOV.UK still shows both options.
Does the CMS work out child maintenance in Scotland?
Yes. The Child Maintenance Service and the 2012 formula cover Scotland as well as England and Wales; mygov.scot points parents to the CMS. Northern Ireland has its own Child Maintenance Service run by the Department for Communities. Police Scotland officers have different pension contribution rates, which the calculator's Scotland setting uses.
Is there a maximum amount of child maintenance?
The CMS ignores gross weekly income over £3,000, about £156,429 a year of taxable pay. That is above every federated rank's pay, so it affects only the highest-paid officers. Above the cap, the receiving parent can apply to a court for a top-up.
Can I be made to pay school fees on top of CMS maintenance?
The CMS amount does not include school fees. A court can make an order solely for the costs of a child's education or training, and for extra costs arising from a disability, even when a CMS calculation is in force (Child Support Act 1991 s.8(7) and (8)). Parents can also agree to share them.
What if I have children with a new partner?
Other children who live with the paying parent and for whom they or their partner get Child Benefit reduce income first: by 11% for one, 14% for two and 16% for three or more. On our illustration that brings two children's maintenance from £148.90 to £136.04 a week.
Can we agree our own child maintenance instead of using the CMS?
Yes. A family-based arrangement can be any amount you both accept, and many parents use the CMS figure as a guide. A court can also make a consent order, but a court order made since 2003 stops a CMS application only for its first year; after that either parent can apply to the CMS.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 19 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- Child Support Act 1991, Schedule 1 (maintenance calculations) : basic, reduced, flat and nil rates; relevant other children 11/14/16%; shared care fractions and £7 per child; £7 minimum; £3,000 cap (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Child Support Act 1991, section 8 (role of the courts) : top-up above the cap; education or training costs; disability costs; written agreements (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Child Support Act 1991, section 4(10) : a later maintenance order blocks a CMS application only for its first year (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Child Support Maintenance Calculation Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/2677), Part 4 : historic income from HMRC; current income where it differs by 25% or more; pension contributions (accessed 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: How child maintenance is worked out, how the rate is worked out : shared care percentages; payments cannot go below £7; court top-up above £3,000 (accessed 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Child Maintenance Service, making and receiving payments : Direct Pay with no fees; Collect and Pay 20% and 4% (accessed 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Child Maintenance Service, changes you need to report : income change of 25% or more; report as soon as it happens (accessed 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: The annual review, how it works (CMS leaflet) : yearly review with new HMRC income figures (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Child Support (Management of Payments and Arrears and Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2024 (SI 2024/87) : £20 application fee removed from 26 February 2024 (accessed 19 October 2026)
- DWP: Child Maintenance, improving the collection and transfer of payments (consultation, 2024) : proposal to remove Direct Pay with a 2% fee for compliant parents and 20% for non-compliant paying parents (accessed 19 October 2026)
- Police Pensions (Amendment) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/267) : 2015 scheme contribution bands from 1 April 2026 (12.88%, 13.88%, 14.22%) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- mygov.scot: Child maintenance : Scottish parents can arrange maintenance through the Child Maintenance Service (accessed 19 October 2026)
- FCA Handbook: MCOB 11.6 (responsible lending, affordability) : child maintenance listed as committed expenditure (MCOB 11.6.11G) (accessed 19 October 2026)
- nidirect: How the child maintenance annual review works : Northern Ireland's own Child Maintenance Service (accessed 19 October 2026)
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Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent reference site. It is not a law firm or a financial adviser, is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, and this page is general information, not legal, financial or pension advice. Every divorce settlement depends on the facts, and pension sharing is decided by agreement or by a court. Figures from our calculators are estimates on stated assumptions: the scheme administrator's cash equivalent and the court order are what count. For decisions about your settlement, speak to a family solicitor and, where the pension is a large part of the money, a pension on divorce expert. Details apply to England and Wales unless stated. Details are as checked on 19 October 2026.