Separated families statistics
Source: gov.uk (2025-03-27)

Statistics relating to separated families and their child maintenance arrangements.

These statistics provide estimates of the following:
- the total number of separated families in Great Britain and the number of children in those families
- the proportion of separated families with child maintenance arrangements and whether this arrangement is statutory or non-statutory
- the total amount of child maintenance received by Parents With Care, by arrangement type
- the net impact of child maintenance payments on the number of children in low income households
- characteristics of separated parents and the impacts of child maintenance payments on where their household members are represented in the income distribution
From 25 March 2021, the name of this statistical series changed from ‘Separated families population statistics’ to ‘Separated families statistics’.

Next release of the Separated families statistics

The next release of Separated families statistics (https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/separated-families-statistics-april-2014-to-march-2025) will be published in March 2026.

Changes to the latest release

Cost of Living Support Schemes 2023 to 2024

During 2022 to 2023 the government announced and implemented additional support to families with several cost of living support schemes (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cost-of-living-support/cost-of-living-support-factsheet-26-may-2022), depending on peoples’ circumstances. These payments continue to be included in the estimates of separated families’ incomes for 2023 to 2024.

Correction to Cost of Living Support Schemes 2022 to 2023

In the 2022 to 2023 release, one element of the low income benefits and tax credits Cost of Living Payment was not included, which has impacted on some data tables and text on GOV.UK. Impacts are small, making a difference of up to a single percentage point either way, compared to the existing figures. Revised 2022 to 2023 data is included in the latest 2023 to 2024 publication. The tables affected relate to the position of separated parent households in the Great Britain income distribution.

FRS questionnaire enhancement 2022 to 2023

In the 2022 to 2023 release, a new question response that provided an opportunity to identify additional parents with care with non-statutory arrangements was not reflected in the Separated Families Statistics. As a result of this change, small numbers of parents who would previously be classified as having no arrangement are now classified as having a non-statutory arrangement. Revised 2022 to 2023 analysis is included in the latest 2023 to 2024 publication. Impacts are small, making a difference of up to two percentage points either way, compared to previous figures. Similar changes have been included for non-resident parents, although the impact is smaller. The tables affected relate to:

the proportion of separated families with a child maintenance arrangement

the position of separated parent households with non-statutory arrangements or no arrangement in the Great Britain income distribution

the percentage of children in parent with care households who remain in low income after child maintenance payments

New data tables added

The latest release includes additional tables on the characteristics of Parents with Care and Non-Resident Parents by child maintenance arrangement type. The tables display breakdowns of Parents with Care and Non-Resident Parents by child maintenance arrangement type and:
- age
- sex
- disability status
- ethnic group
- marital status
Further information

Find future separated families publication dates in our statistics release calendar and other DWP statistics on the statistics at DWP (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/statistics) page.

Email: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) with feedback and queries.

DWP’s statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR).

OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.

You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards.

Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) or via the Office for Statistics Regulation website (https://osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/).

There is contact information and more about DWP statistics on the statistics at DWP (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/statistics) page.