Parents in England, Scotland, and Wales are being pushed to "breaking point" by the Child Maintenance Service (CMS), the agency responsible for securing financial support for children after parental separation, BBC Panorama has revealed.

Fathers have reported significant anxiety and stress stemming from administrative errors, while mothers describe arduous battles to secure payments from ex-partners. The CMS aims to ensure children's living costs, including food, clothing, and bills, are met by both parents, even after separation.

One mother, identified as Katy, told Panorama that the CMS's failure to ensure her ex-partner made payments has resulted in nearly £10,000 in arrears. This lack of financial support has forced her to rely on food banks and decline opportunities for her children, causing immense personal distress.

The implications of these failures are significant, impacting the financial stability of families and the well-being of children. The CMS, part of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), oversees over 800,000 cases involving more than a million children.

The service calculates maintenance based on the paying parent's income, a formula that some parents argue does not adequately consider both parents' financial circumstances. Katy's ex-partner was meant to pay over £330 per month, but has not done so, leaving her in a precarious financial situation for over three years.

Data indicates the CMS is facing increasing demand, with the number of cases rising by approximately 300,000 in the last five years. In the first three months of this year alone, over 1,400 complaints were lodged with the service, according to the DWP's latest annual report.

Another parent shared their experience of being pushed to the brink by years of disputes with the CMS, including an instance where an incorrect child was added to their account. The DWP acknowledged that while the CMS successfully arranges payments in most cases, they take the issues in a "small number" of cases "very seriously."

Concerns also extend to cases involving domestic abuse, where a mother stated she was forced to skip meals after her abusive ex-partner ceased payments, highlighting the vulnerability of some parents interacting with the system.