Proposals for new child maintenance scheme revealed

By Hugh Logue, Newswatch Editor

Detailed proposals for the new statutory child maintenance scheme include plans to increase the amount of maintenance paid by parents on state benefits and others declaring low incomes.

The Government are seeking to provide better support to parents to tackle all the issues they face at separation, and make collaborative family-based arrangements. Offered as a fall-back option for parents who cannot collaborate, the Government claims the new statutory child maintenance scheme will be fairer, faster and less costly to the taxpayer. It will also be much less dependent on what non-resident parents choose to disclose about their incomes.

Work and Pensions Minister Maria Miller said: "Supporting families is a major government priority and that's why we want all parents to meet their responsibilities by working together in the interests of their children. Those unable to do so will be able to apply to the new scheme, which represents a major improvement over those currently run by the CSA. With significant efficiency savings we expect also to reduce the huge drain on public resources that the CSA currently imposes."

The proposals are contained in a consultation The Child Support Maintenance Calculation Regulations 2012 - A technical consultation on the draft regulations. Closing date for submissions is 23 February 2012.