- If the paying parent (or their partner) gets Child Benefit for other children living with them, the CMS reduces the paying parent's counted income by 11% for one child, 14% for two and 16% for three or more before applying the usual percentage.12 On £600 a week with one child to pay for and one other child at home, maintenance falls from £72 to £64.08.
The adjustment, step by step
Other children are the children the paying parent or their partner gets Child Benefit for.1 The cut to income applies on the Basic and Basic Plus rates (income from £200 a week).2 On the Reduced rate (£100 to £200 a week) the CMS uses a lower percentage instead (see the rates guide).3
| Other children at home | Income cut | Income counted | Weekly maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0% | £600 | £72 |
| 1 | 11% | £534 | £64.08 |
| 2 | 14% | £516 | £61.92 |
| 3 or more | 16% | £504 | £60.48 |
DWP's worked example
DWP's guide works through a parent on £30,000 a year who pays £3,000 into a personal pension, supports one other child and pays for two children. Weekly income is £27,000 ÷ 365 × 7 = £517.81; less 11% = £460.85; 16% of that is £73.74. One child stays 115 nights a year (two-sevenths off that child's half), leaving £63.21 a week.1 Our calculator gives the same figures.
Children with more than one other parent
If you pay maintenance to more than one receiving parent, the CMS works out one amount for all the children and splits it between the households.1 Our calculator covers one receiving parent; use the official calculator for more.4
Before you go
Child Maintenance Pack
- The 2026/27 rates and your figure, step by step
- A shared-care diary and an arrangement template
£4.99 one-off · full refund if you ask within 14 days