| Synopsis: |
This paper sets out the Government's approach for the future of child maintenance, building on existing legislation. It also launches a consultation on the details of policy implementation stemming from draft regulations which will underpin charging, and what will happen in existing cases under the Child Support Agency (CSA) during the closure process. In 2011/12 the Department for Work and Pensions spent almost GBP6 billion on providing help to 600,000 single parents through income-related benefits including Income Support, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Benefit. Offsetting the cost of providing benefits to lone parents was a key objective of the original 1993 statutory child maintenance scheme. The Government's view is that too many parents come to see the CSA as the default option for arranging maintenance, and believes a better a way to secure effective maintenance arrangement, including financial maintenance is to support parents in reaching their own arrangements wherever possible. The publication is divided into eight chapters, with three annexes. |