🔍 Do You Have to Tell the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) About Changes in Your Job or Address?
When you're paying or receiving child maintenance through the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), you're not just dealing with informal arrangements—you’re dealing with a legal system backed by legislation. One of the key obligations placed on parents involved with CMS is to notify them about any changes in employment or address. But what law actually says you have to do that?
Let’s break it down.
⚖️ What Law Requires You to Notify the CMS?
This obligation is rooted in a combination of primary legislation (an Act of Parliament) and secondary legislation (Statutory Instruments, or SIs). Here's what applies:
đź“ś The Child Support Act 1991
This is the main piece of legislation that governs child maintenance in the UK.
- Section 14(1) states that any person involved in a child support case must provide information as required by the Secretary of State (i.e., the government via CMS).
- Section 14A gives legal power for regulations to be created which require parents to notify the CMS of changes in their circumstances.
So, this is the foundation of the obligation. But the specific rules are set out in the regulations below.
🧾 The Child Support (Information, Evidence and Disclosure) Regulations 2008 – SI 2008/2551
This Statutory Instrument provides the detailed legal framework. The most relevant part is:
👉 Regulation 15 – Duty to Notify Changes
This regulation makes it crystal clear:
A non-resident parent (i.e., the paying parent) must notify the CMS within 7 days of any change in:
- Address
- Employment (including employer’s name and address)
- Income, hours worked, or employment status
If you don’t tell them, you’re in breach of your legal duty.
⚠️ What Happens If You Don’t Comply?
There are consequences. The CMS can take enforcement action if you fail to notify them of a change that affects your child maintenance calculation.
This could include:
- Backdated maintenance recalculations
- Legal proceedings in cases of deliberate non-compliance
Under Section 14(1A) of the Child Support Act 1991, giving false information or failing to provide information when requested can also be treated as a criminal offence.
đź“ť Final Thoughts
If your circumstances change—whether you move house, start a new job, or lose a source of income—it’s not just a courtesy to tell CMS. It’s a legal requirement.
Ignoring this duty can result in serious consequences, including penalties and potential prosecution. So if you’re involved with CMS, make sure you keep them in the loop. It’s not just good practice—it’s the law. We recommend that you notify all changes using the portal.