Consultation: Child maintenance and closure of the CSA

What is it all about? The government is planning to reshape the child maintenance system so it is focused on supporting families to make their own arrangements in the best interests of children. £20m is being invested to provide a network of online, telephone and face-to-face support services for parents. The statutory scheme is intended to provide a safety net, and charging will be introduced as an incentive for parents to work out their own arrangements.

What are the main points? The consultation seeks views on the detail of how charging, and moving existing cases to the new system (case closure), should operate in practice. If parents need to use the service, there will be a one-off, upfront fee of £20 to make an application. This will not be applied if the applicant has declared that they are a victim of domestic violence, or if they are aged 18 or under.

The consultation seeks views on whether the scheme may prevent victims of domestic violence from using it, as well as on whether a seven per cent “collection fee” is the right amount to levy on maintenance paid to a parent with care. Currently, for a case with an average liability of £33.40, this would amount to £2.34 per week.

Once the new statutory service has launched, the process of closing all existing Child Support Agency cases over a three-year period will begin. Parents will be contacted six months in advance of the closure of their existing scheme case to allow them the opportunity to access the support services and consider their future arrangements. The government wants to know if six months is a reasonable period for both parents to consider their options.

The government also wants to know what evidence should be considered as part of a planned 30-month review of the new system.

Who can have a say? The government wants to hear from all who are interested in child maintenance and wider family and children’s issues. It is calling for contributions from parents who live apart, representative organisations for parents who live apart or their children, the legal profession, organisations that represent families and children, and members of the general public.

When does it close? 26 October 2012.

Find out more: www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2012/childrens-futures.shtml