Child Maintenance Service: Direct Pay Research
This research explores Child Maintenance Service (CMS) customer perceptions of their Direct Pay arrangements and views on potential reforms to the Direct Pay service.
Research background
This research was commissioned to understand Direct Pay customers perceptions and experiences of the Direct Pay service, to support potential reforms to the service.
The findings cover:
- experiences of Direct Pay
- attitudes towards other child maintenance arrangements
- views on changes to the Direct Pay service
Contribution to the evidence base
This report is published alongside the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) Data Insights publication. This is a release of previously unpublished management information and ad-hoc analyses relating to the performance of the CMS.
These findings expand upon the results from the Survey of CMS Direct Pay Clients, that was published in 2016 and the subsequent research that was published in 2022. The 2016 survey covered how Direct Pay arrangements were working, the influence of charges, decision making behind Direct Pay arrangements and setting up Direct Pay arrangements. The research published in 2022 explored experiences of Direct Pay, what types of maintenance arrangements customers had in place three and 13 months after their Direct Pay calculation and which customer groups are most suited to Direct Pay.
Child Maintenance Service Direct Pay clients survey - GOV.UK
Direct Pay research 2017 to 2019 - GOV.UK
Research value
This report is published alongside the government’s response to the public consultation on Direct Pay. This research findings have been used when considering this response and future reforms to the CMS.