STOPS group have been working behind the scenes putting in Countless FOIs and collating information and we have come up with the following report. Please feel free to copy and send to as many people as possible.
All the figures are taken from FOI responses which can be supplied on request,and national statistics, which have been and can be verified through Google or ChatGPT.
CMS and Paying Parent Mortality: Disturbing Findings The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) vehemently deny any link between the CMS system and suicides among Paying Parents (PPs).
However, through persistent Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, our group has uncovered alarming data on mortality rates within the PP community.
Despite CMS attempts to restrict access to information—limiting our requests to as little as a ten-day period—we have successfully obtained figures that reveal a shocking trend.
Key Findings:
1. Confirmed Suicides
• A previous FOI response covering a six-month period confirmed 35 suicides among PPs. An in one ten day period, 59 PP deaths with 1 confirmed suicide.
• CMS is now actively discouraging FOI requests related to suicide numbers, raising further concerns.
2. Total Deaths of Paying Parents
• According to an FOI response from CMS, between 2020 and 2022, there were 4,959 reported deaths of PPs.
• This equates to an annual mortality rate of 2,479 deaths per year within the CMS PP population.
• CMS states there are 678,000 cases in their system, meaning the annual death rate among PPs is 0.366%.
3. Comparison to National Mortality Rates
• Nationally, mortality rates for individuals aged 30–49 are significantly lower. According to 2023 data: we have used this age group as CMS FOI states 73% of PPs are in this age group.
• 3034: 0.9 per 1,000 males (0.09%), 0.4 per 1,000 females (0.04%)
• 35–39: 1.3 per 1,000 males (0.13%), 0.7 per 1,000 females (0.07%)
• 40–44: 1.9 per 1,000 males (0.19%), 1.1 per 1,000 females (0.11%)
• 45–49: 2.8 per 1,000 males (0.28%), 1.7 per 1,000 females (0.17%)
• The estimated average mortality rate for the 45–49 age group (which is higher than younger groups) is 0.225%—but the overall average for all PPs (30–49) would be even lower.
4. Excess Deaths Calculation
• The difference in mortality rates between CMS PPs (0.366%) and the national average (0.225%) is: 0.366% - 0.225% = 0.141%
• When applied to the 678,000 PPs in the system, this equates to an additional 896 deaths per year beyond what would be expected based on national trends.
• This figure only accounts for the 45–49 age group, meaning the actual excess death toll is likely even higher.
The CMS Response: Avoiding Transparency In recent responses, CMS has explicitly requested that we stop asking for suicide data. This raises the question: What are they trying to hide?
The reluctance to disclose updated figures on suicide rates and the higher-than-expected mortality rate among PPs demand urgent scrutiny.
These figures indicate a potential crisis that cannot be ignored.
Next Steps: Raising Awareness and Demanding Accountability We encourage journalists, policymakers, and advocacy groups to:
✅ Demand a full investigation into the impact of CMS policies on Paying Parents’ mental health and well-being.
✅ Challenge the CMS and DWP to release full suicide and mortality data without restrictions.
✅ Push for policy changes to ensure that the CMS system does not contribute to avoidable deaths. These numbers are not just statistics—they represent real people who have suffered under a broken system. The time for action is now.
CMS0035
Written evidence submitted by Dr Christine Davies Click here
At 72 Years old James Anderson threw himself out of his bedroom window after the Child Maintenance Service raided his bank account and took £10,000 for arrears he did not owe, tormented by bombardment of texts from the Child Maintenance Service he had had enough, the only way out for him was to take his own life. Thankfully James survived to tell his story.
Brian Hudson's presentation
Brian Hudson's Peer-Reviewed report on the link to suicide and the Child Maintenance Sevice https://t.co/1mECqD2SlL
The paying parent population of the CMS that have arrears is approx 53,700, from a total paying parent population of 435,900. In the 33 months from Sept 2017 to June 2020. To be inline with normal mortality rates for 30 to 50 age range, we would expect 207 deaths, but there were 2,860 deaths, a total excess deaths of 2,653 in less than 3 years, 14 x the normal mortaility rate, and 173 x the normal suicide rate and accounting for approx. 20% of national suicide.
Services to support people who are vulnerable to suicide
16. For every life lost to suicide, the estimated total cost to the economy is around £1.67 million. 24 The Association of Directors of Public Health told us in written evidence that for every person who ends their life by suicide, a “minimum of six people will suffer a severe impact”.25 Those bereaved by suicide are themselves at greater risk of suicide. During the Committee’s evidence session with bereaved families, we heard how, as well as coping with a devastating loss, they also face onerous practical problems including dealing with coroners’ inquests and incident reviews. They are not entitled to any form of support, nor are they entitled to a family liaison officer which would be standard practice in many other situations. Steve Mallen, a bereaved parent and founder of the MindEd Trust, described being given a leaflet and then left to cope alone: “That is it. That is the sum total of interaction that one gets, and you are facing an abyss that is beyond imagination. That is very difficult”.26 We heard examples of excellent support services for people bereaved by suicide in Liverpool, including SOBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide) and AMPARO, as well as CHUMS in Bedfordshire and If U Care Share in the North East—but these services are few and far between and funding for them is precarious. https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmhealth/300/30005.htm
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