SSCS2 Form UK: Appeal a Child Maintenance Ruling
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If you disagree with a decision the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has made about child maintenance, you may be able to take that decision to an independent tribunal. The route for doing this is Form SSCS2, which asks Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) to look again at the matter.
It isn't a complaints process, and it isn't a second bite at the calculation. It's a formal application that goes before a panel with the power to decide, within the limits of the law, whether the DWP got it right.
This page walks through how the SSCS2 appeal works in practice, who has the right to use it, what a tribunal can actually do, and the deadlines you need to meet. It is written for parents on either side of a Child Maintenance Service case who want to understand their options before pushing ahead.
What this document is
Form SSCS2 is the official appeal form used in England and Wales to ask the Social Entitlement Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal to review certain Child Maintenance Group decisions made by the DWP. Before you can lodge an SSCS2, the DWP must already have carried out what is known as a mandatory reconsideration, and you must have a mandatory reconsideration notice confirming their position.
The appeal then asks a tribunal judge, sitting independently of the DWP, to test whether that decision was correct in law and on the facts. Tribunals are designed to be more informal than a court, but the process is still structured.
You set out what you disagree with, you explain why, and you can submit supporting evidence. The tribunal can uphold the original decision, change it, or send it back for another look. What it cannot do is rewrite policy, handle service complaints, or decide matters that fall outside the statutory child maintenance rules.
How to use this document
- Request a mandatory reconsideration first. You cannot go straight to the tribunal. Contact the Child Maintenance Group and ask them to look at the decision again, explaining clearly what you think is wrong and why. They will respond with a mandatory reconsideration notice, which is the document that unlocks your right to appeal using Form SSCS2.
- Check that the decision is actually appealable. Not every decision carries a right of appeal. Liability questions, such as whether someone has to pay and how much, generally can be appealed. Administrative issues, like how payments are collected or scheduled, usually cannot. Your mandatory reconsideration notice should tell you whether an appeal route exists for the specific decision you want to challenge.
- Gather your evidence and grounds. Put together the paperwork that supports your position, for example income documents, correspondence with the CMS, or records showing shared care arrangements. Write out the reasons you believe the decision is wrong in plain, factual language. Strong appeals focus on what the law requires and where the DWP's conclusion departed from the evidence.
- Complete and submit Form SSCS2 within one calendar month. Fill in the form carefully, attach a copy of the mandatory reconsideration notice, and send it to HMCTS before the deadline runs out. The clock generally starts from the date on the notice. If you are submitting late, you must set out on the form why the appeal is late and ask the tribunal to accept it.
- Prepare for the hearing. Once HMCTS acknowledges the appeal, you will receive directions about next steps, any further evidence they want, and whether you prefer a paper hearing or an oral hearing. An oral hearing gives you the chance to explain your case in person or by video, which many appellants find helpful. Stay organised, respond to deadlines, and keep copies of everything you send.
Common questions
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Common questions
Q Do I need to complete mandatory reconsideration before using Form SSCS2?
Yes. An SSCS2 appeal can only be lodged after the DWP has carried out a mandatory reconsideration and issued you with a mandatory reconsideration notice. Without that notice, HMCTS will not accept the appeal. If you have not yet asked for a reconsideration, contact the Child Maintenance Group first and set out why you think the decision is wrong.
Q How long do I have to submit an SSCS2 appeal?
You generally have one calendar month from the date of the mandatory reconsideration notice to lodge Form SSCS2 with HMCTS. Late appeals are not automatically refused, but you must include a clear explanation for the delay on the form itself. The tribunal will then decide whether to accept it, so acting promptly is always the safer approach.
Q What can a tribunal actually change?
A tribunal can decide whether a paying parent is liable, how much they should pay, and which parent that liability falls on, within the boundaries of the statutory child maintenance rules. It cannot change the law itself, deal with service complaints about the Child Maintenance Service, or award things that sit outside the tribunal's legal powers.
Q Does it cost anything to appeal?
There is no fee to lodge a Child Maintenance appeal on Form SSCS2 at the First-tier Tribunal. You are responsible for your own costs if you choose to get help, for example from a solicitor or adviser. For the most current position on fees and any exemptions, check gov.uk before you submit.
Q Can I get help preparing my appeal?
Yes. Citizens Advice, local welfare rights services, trade unions, and some solicitors offer support with tribunal appeals. Help can range from explaining the process to drafting written submissions and attending the hearing with you. Getting an informed view on whether your grounds are strong is often worth doing before you commit to the appeal.
Q Will I have to attend a hearing?
Not necessarily. You can ask for a paper hearing, where the tribunal decides the case on the documents alone, or an oral hearing where you attend in person or remotely. Oral hearings often give appellants a better chance to explain their situation and answer the panel's questions, but the choice is yours when you complete the form.
Q What happens if I miss the one-month deadline?
You can still submit Form SSCS2, but you must give the tribunal a reason for the delay. The judge will look at your explanation and decide whether to admit the late appeal. There is an outer time limit beyond which appeals are generally not accepted at all, so do not assume a late application will automatically be considered.
If you're dealing with this kind of situation, speak to an experienced legal adviser who can walk you through it — from £89.
Sources
This guide is based on primary UK law and official guidance.
- Guidance · UK GovForm SSCS2: Notice of appeal against a Child Maintenance decision (gov.uk)gov.uk
- Guidance · UK GovAppeal a Child Maintenance decision (gov.uk)gov.uk
- Guidance · UK GovHM Courts and Tribunals Servicegov.uk
Legal helpline
Unsure whether your appeal has legs?
Child maintenance appeals turn on narrow legal grounds, and it helps to talk through your situation before you commit to the process. An experienced legal adviser can give you a practical perspective on your specific question based on what you describe on the call.
- Plain-English answers to your specific questions about the SSCS2 process
- A practical perspective on your circumstances based on what you describe
- Help you think through whether appealing is the right next step
- Guidance tailored to what you tell the adviser about your case
Legal disclaimer
This article is for general information only. It is a tool to help you find your way — not legal advice, and not a substitute for speaking to a qualified adviser about your situation.