- What information do we collect from visitors to the website?
- Log files
- Feedback
- Cookies
- The Child Support Agency and The Data Protection Act
- The Child Support Agency and The Freedom of Information Act
- Obtaining information
- Disclosure of information
- Changes to this privacy policy
What information do we collect from visitors to the website?
We collect two kinds of information from visitors to the CSA website: feedback (through visitors emailing us) and site usage information from log files.
Page topLog files
Log files allow us to record visitors' use of the site. The log files do not hold any personal information that can be used to identify you. We use this information to make changes to the layout of the website and to the information in it.
Page topFeedback
We welcome your comments about this website. The Internet Team do not have access to any case records; if you want to make an enquiry or send information about your case then you should contact the centre that deals with it. You can find our contact details here.
Once we have replied to you, we keep a record of your message for reference and audit purposes.
Page topCookies
Cookies are pieces of data that are often created when you visit a website, and which are stored in the cookie directory on your computer.
This website does not normally use cookies. Occasionally we run user surveys on the site. In this case we use cookies to monitor the number of responses to the survey. We also use cookies to ensure that you are not presented with the survey again if you have already completed it.
Page topThe Child Support Agency and The Data Protection Act
The Child Support Agency understands the concerns around the collection and use of personal information.
The Agency has an obligation to ensure that clients have enough information to fully understand the assessment, collection and enforcement of their child maintenance and to protect any personal information that is not essential to that understanding.
For more information on the Agency's use of Data write to:
CSA Data Protection UnitAlnwick House, Room BP6002
Benton Park View, Benton Park Road
Longbenton, Newcastle upon Tyne
NE98 1YX
Further information about the Data Protection Act can be found on the Information Commissioner's website.
The following information can be disclosed to Child Support Agency clients:
- Information relating to the processing of their case including whether enough information has been supplied to make an assessment
- whether maintenance has been paid
- what enforcement action is intended (if any).
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The Child Support Agency and The Freedom of Information Act
As a part of the Department for Work and Pensions, the Child Support Agency complies fully with the Department's policy relating to the Freedom of Information Act
Freedom of Information and the Department for Work and Pensions
Page topObtaining information
The Child Support Agency obtains information from and about non-resident parents and parents with care under its statutory powers. For example the Child Support (Information, Evidence and Disclosure) Regulations 1992 give the Child Support Agency powers to obtain certain information from, amongst others, the relevant parties, employers and local authorities.
Page topDisclosure of information
Where a disclosure of information is required by Child Support Legislation the disclosure will not be in breach of the Data Protection Act 1998.
This will be the case even though the client may object to the disclosure of their personal information or may not have provided any specific permission to disclose the information.
For example Regulation 9A of the Child Support (Information, Evidence and Disclosure) Regulations 1992 permits the disclosure of information given by one party to the other party in certain circumstances.
Section 35 of the Data Protection Act 1998 permits the disclosure of information in any case where the disclosure is required by or under any enactment, by any rule of law or by the order of a court.
If you want to know more about what information we have about you, or
the way we use your information see Data
Protection Act 1998 
(PDF
- 87KB)
Changes to this privacy policy
If this privacy policy changes in any way, we will place an updated version on this page. Regularly reviewing this page ensures you are always aware of what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we will share it with other parties.
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