Question 1

What address should I use for the Child Maintenance Service?

Accepted Answer

Most CMS correspondence goes to Child Maintenance Service, Wolverhampton, WV98 2BU. Check your most recent decision or statement letter first - CMS sometimes prints a case-specific return address or PO box, and if yours does, use that instead.

Question 2

How long do I have to ask for a mandatory reconsideration?

Accepted Answer

30 days from the date on your decision letter. The CMS can accept a late request up to 13 months if you have a good reason, but it is at their discretion, so treat 30 days as the real deadline. Sending Signed For gives you a dated record that it arrived in time.

Question 3

Is an appeal sent to the same address?

Accepted Answer

No. A mandatory reconsideration goes to the CMS. If you disagree with the outcome, the appeal goes to HM Courts and Tribunals Service - the Social Security and Child Support tribunal - which is a separate organisation with its own address and its own deadline. Your mandatory reconsideration notice will tell you where to send it.

Question 4

What do I need to include in the letter?

Accepted Answer

Always quote your CMS reference number and your National Insurance number. Without them the CMS may not be able to match your letter to your case. State clearly what you are asking for and include the date of the decision you are challenging.

Question 5

Will my address appear on the letter?

Accepted Answer

No. We print your letter exactly as you write it and post it in a plain windowed envelope with no return address, so nothing is added that you did not put there yourself. If you do not want the other parent to know where you live, do not include your address in the body of the letter. If you are worried about your safety, see the government's guidance on domestic abuse at gov.uk/guidance/domestic-abuse-how-to-get-help.

Question 6

Can I prove the CMS received my letter?

Accepted Answer

Every letter includes a free proof of postage certificate showing the date it was handed to Royal Mail. For proof it was actually delivered, choose Royal Mail Signed For, which captures a signature, or Special Delivery, which is tracked with a guaranteed delivery time.

Question 7

How quickly will my letter be posted?

Accepted Answer

If you place your order before 1:30pm on a UK working day, your letter goes into the post the same day. Orders placed after 1:30pm, at weekends, or on UK bank holidays are despatched on the next working day.

Question 8

Is my letter content kept private?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Content is encrypted in transit (TLS 1.3) and at rest (AES-256), retained for 90 days for re-print in case of return, then automatically deleted. We are UK GDPR compliant and registered with the ICO.

Send a letter to the Child Maintenance Service

Send a letter to the Child Maintenance Service