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Payment Loopholes and Self-Employment within the Child Maintenance Service (CMS).

The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Single-Parent Families invites you to our next meeting on Payment Loopholes and Self-Employment within the Child Maintenance Service (CMS). Thursday 2nd July 2026, 12:30 – 13:30    Parliament and Zoom (hybrid)

 
Thursday 2nd July 2026, 12:30 – 13:30    Parliament and Zoom (hybrid)
 
With reform of the CMS on the horizon, the APPG continues its investigation into the effectiveness of the service with a session examining how financial loopholes are being used to avoid or reduce child maintenance payments.
 
Research suggests that the CMS may be least effective when paying parents are self-employed or in irregular work. Single parents report tactics including underreporting income, declaring minimal profits, and taking earnings ‘cash in hand’ to reduce payments, with some even pointing to online forums that share advice on exploiting weaknesses in the system.
 
Chaired by Dr Rupa Huq MP, this meeting will bring together leading experts and single parents with lived experience of the CMS to explore the manipulation of these loopholes, the impact they have on single-parent families, and how the government can close them as part of wider CMS reform.
 
This will be a hybrid session, taking place in parliament and remotely via Zoom.
 
If you would like to attend remotely, please register via Eventbrite using the button below.
I’d like to attend virtually https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/all-party-parliamentary-group-on-single-parent-families-tickets-1991466031509?aff=oddtdtcreator
If you would like to attend in-person, please fill out this expression of interest form by Tuesday, 16 June.
I’d like to attend in-person https://www.tfaforms.com/5225506
 
Registration does not guarantee a spot. As space is limited, attendance will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis.  If you've secured a place, we'll be in touch by Friday, 19 June with a confirmation.
 
Yours sincerely,
Secretariat, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Single-Parent Families
5 hours 21 minutes ago by Joanna Gurr
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