Child maintenance and Universal Credit: does it affect your claim?

If you receive maintenance

You do not report child maintenance as income on your Universal Credit claim, and it does not reduce your award.¹ This applies whether it is paid through the CMS or arranged between you.

Child maintenance is also separate from Child Benefit, which is its own claim.⁴

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If you pay maintenance while on Universal Credit

The CMS uses the flat rate of £7 a week if your Universal Credit is worked out on the basis that you have no earned income.²³ If you work while claiming Universal Credit, the CMS uses your earnings instead, so the Basic or Reduced rate can apply.²

On the flat rate, if a child stays with you for 52 nights a year or more, you pay nothing for that child or the other children in that household.³

Worked example

A paying parent earns £150 a week while on Universal Credit and has one child who lives with the other parent. Because they have earnings, the reduced rate applies: £7 + 17% of £50 = £15.50 a week.³ If they stopped work and their Universal Credit assumed no earnings, the flat rate of £7 would apply.

Work out child maintenance on your income →