Child maintenance consultation

The DWP published a consultation paper on child maintenance last week, that starts from a position that “encouraging parents to reach their own agreement is likely to be far better for the children involved.” Under the proposed new system, parents will be able to get help and information on the range of options available to them free of charge. They can then decide whether to make their own arrangements or to get the state to intervene. If parents decide to use the state system, there will be a charge.

Costs could include an upfront application charge of around £100. However, parents on benefits will pay a fee of £50, of which £20 will be paid upfront and the remainder in instalments. In cases where people have suffered domestic violence, their case will be fast tracked directly onto the state service and no payment will be required.

To tackle the “minority” of parents who refuse to pay child maintenance, a new service will replace the Child Support Agency. Gingerbread found out last year that “Nationally, £3,761 million was owed in child maintenance arrears as of March 2010, of which around £1,065 million has been judged to be collectable.”

Closing date for responses is 7 April 2011, Child maintenance reforms