![Group of children in silhouette](/media/10372/children-in-silhouette-istock-135847809-zurijeta.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=1200&height=600&rnd=132639268390000000)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has agreed on a new contract with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) application development, maintenance and support for its Digital Children Service.
The contract, which follows on from a previous agreement between the two parties, begins next month and is set to run for four years with a value of £42.6 million to £49.6 million.
According to the contract award notice, the services will be focused primarily on the Child Maintenance Scheme (CMS).
Earlier this year DWP received a funding pledge of £17 million from the previous Government to upgrade the IT systems that support the delivery of the CMS. The existing system has been in place since the scheme was launched in 2012.
The digital service for making child maintenance applications was introduced late in 2019, prior to which it was completely telephone based. It now accounts for an overwhelming majority of users.