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Editing

What is editing?

Editing is the removal from an appeal submission of any information which may lead to the whereabouts of a party to the appeal being located.

What information will be edited?

Any information that could indicate the location of a parent. So you may find the following deleted from your copy of the submission.

  • addresses declared on claim forms and correspondence
  • employer's location details
  • mortgage lender's location details
  • reference numbers, other than the child support reference number

Please note that this list is not exhaustive.

What information will remain?

Any other information used by the Decision Maker on behalf of the Secretary of State must be included in the submission to help the Tribunal reach a decision. This may include personal and sensitive details such as earnings and information provided in letters. This must be included as evidence relating to the decision under appeal.

How do I arrange for my submission to be edited?

When your appeal is first accepted as a valid appeal by the Central Appeals Unit you will be sent a letter asking whether you require your location to be kept confidential. A reply slip is attached to this letter and should be returned if editing is required.

You have 14 days to reply to this letter.

The law relating to editing

Paragraph 44 of the Social Security and Child Support (Decision and Appeals) Regulations 1999 sets out the conditions relating to editing. The regulation is as follows:

  1. In the circumstances specified in paragraph (2), in a child support appeal, the prescribed material is
    1. the address of the absent parent (non resident parent); the parent with care; the child; a parent of the child or any person with the care of the child; or
    2. any information the use of which could reasonably be expected to lead to the location of any person specified in paragraph (a).
  2. The absent parent or, as the case may be, the parent with care, has within 14 days of issue of that enquiry notified the Secretary of State that he would like the information specified in paragraph (1) which relates to him to remain confidential.
  3. In this regulation, the expressions of "absent parent" and "parent with care" have the meanings those expressions bear in section 54 of the Child Support Act.

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Related information

Other websites

  • How to Appeal - A guide from the Tribunals Service designed to help you understand the appeals procedure