Changes to child support
- When will all this happen?
- What will happen to my case?
- Will the CSA be closed?
- When can I move to the new rules/ new system/new way of sorting out child maintenance?
- I am an exisiting CSA client claiming benefits and want to set up a private arrangement - can I do this now?
- When will I be able to keep more of the money paid as child maintenance?
- Will I still deal with the Child Support Agency?
- Will it affect how I receive my payments?
- Can I still make a claim and how do I do this?
- What happens if my circumstances change?
- The other parent says there is no point in paying child maintenance now. Do they still have to?
- The other parent owes me a lot of money in child maintenance - will this be written off under the new proposals?
- My case is still on the 'old scheme' - will this now transfer to the new scheme?
- I would like more information about the proposals in the White Paper.
- How will I be kept informed?
Q. When will all this happen?
A. None of these changes will happen immediately. The new organisation and the development of the new scheme will be introduced in stages over a number of years.
An expected timetable for change is as follows.
2008-2009
Parents with care on benefits will no longer be compelled to use the Statutory maintenance scheme (operated by the CSA). They will be able to consider their choices of arrangement through a new information and support service (Child Maintenance Options). By the end of 2008, the £10 per week disregard (presently only available to clients on the current scheme) will be doubled to £20 per week and extended to those who are also on the old scheme. Investment in the CSA's Operational Improvement Plan will continue, improving performance for parents using the current schemes.
2010
In April 2010 a full benefit disregard will be introduced.
2011
It is planned that new applications to a new 'gross income' child maintenance scheme will begin. Existing clients on the CSA current schemes will be able to change to the new scheme, a process that is anticipated to continue for three years.
2013-2014
The new child maintenance system is fully operational.
Q. What will happen to my case?
A. For now there willl be no changes to your case. We will continue to improve our service through the Operational Improvement Plan.
We will let you know if there will be any changes to your case.
Q. Will the CSA be closed?
A. The new Commission will take over responsibility for the Child Support Agency’s work in 2008. In the meantime, cases will continue to be processed as usual.
Q. When can I move to the new rules/new system/new way of sorting out child maintenance?
A. On current plans, the Government expects to start moving cases across in 2010-2011. The process of transferring cases is expected to take around three years. We expect minimum disruption and continuity of service for those parents who wish to move across. Parents will be supported through any reapplication process.
Q. I am an exisiting CSA client claiming benefits and want to set up a private arrangement - can I do this now?
A. Across the summer we will be writing to you to explain what your choices are and when you will be able to make them, and letting you know about a new information and support service, Child Maintenance Options, that will help you make an informed choice about what child maintenance arrangements are right for your circumstances.
Q. When will I be able to keep more of the money paid as child maintenance?
A. On 27 October 2008, all parents with care claiming income-related benefits (Income Support and income based Jobseeker's Allowance) will be able to keep the first £20 per week of their maintenance where it is being paid. At the same time, all child maintenance payments will be disregarded when calculating Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
From April 2010 a full benefit disregard will be introduced.
Q. Will I still deal with the Child Support Agency?
A. If you are currently claiming Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and child maintenance is paid through the CSA, you must continue to use us until late October 2008.
If you are not claiming either of these benefits you do not have to use the CSA to arrange your child maintenance payments.
Q. Will it affect how I receive my payments?
A. No, not in the immediate future.
Q. Can I still make a claim and how do I do this?
A. Yes, the process for making a claim has not changed. Details of how to do this can be found in our 'Setting Up Child Maintenance' section.
Q. What happens if my circumstances change?
A. You should continue to report any changes of circumstances in the normal way.
Q. The other parent says there is no point in paying child maintenance now. Do they still have to?
A. Most definitely.
During the period in which the Government is setting up the new Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, we will continue to increase our focus on compliance and enforcement as part of the Operational Improvement Plan.
Q. The other parent owes me a lot of money in child maintenance - will this be written off under the new proposals?
A. There is no question of allowing non-resident parents who are able to pay to escape their responsibilities. The Government's plans to introduce tougher enforcement measures are aimed at making significant inroads into existing debt.
The Government has decided against seeking a general power to write-off debt that may appear to be irrecoverable. But, there will be some limited circumstances where it would be unfair or inappropriate to recover debt. These are cases where there is no ongoing liability for child maintenance, and, for example, a non resident parent has died and the debt cannot be recovered from their estate, or where a parent with care asks the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission not to recover the debt, perhaps because the couple are reconciled. We will in all such cases be acting in accordance with the wishes of the parent with care.
Q. My case is still on the 'old scheme' - will this now transfer to the new scheme?
A. No.
The Government will establish the new organisation by the end of 2008 and we expect to start moving cases over to the new scheme in 2010-11. The transfer process is expected to take around three years.
The new organisation will develop the detailed proposals for moving existing cases forward and we will keep clients informed as decisions are made.
If your case becomes linked to a new child maintenance application that is made on or after 3 March 2003, but before the new scheme was set up, we have to move your case to the current scheme. This scheme was set up on 3 March 2003. We have to move cases to the current scheme in these circumstances because the law is that we must work out child maintenance for both cases using the same rules.
From October 2008 parents with care on benefits will no longer be compelled to use the CSA. They will be able to consider their choices of arrangement through a new information and support service, Child Maintenance Options.
Q. I would like more information about the proposals in the White Paper.
A. The White Paper 'A new system of child maintenance' is available on the DWP website.
Q. How will I be kept informed?
A. We will keep clients informed of any decisions made that will impact on them.
Related information
- The White Paper 'A new system of child maintenance' can be viewed on the DWP website.
