Reforms to child support criticised

Parents in Leicestershire have warned Government reforms to the child maintenance system are "half-baked."

The Child Support Agency (CSA) is responsible for ensuring a parent who has split from their partner still provides financial support to help look after children.

But some parents have complained about the agency, claiming it is ineffective at ensuring payments are made to some, while charging too much to others.

The coalition Government announced it would reform the system, but the changes it is bringing forward have been criticised by women's charities and parents.

Under the current system, parents can come to a voluntary arrangement, if not they can apply to use the "statutory system" which sees the CSA step in, determine how much one parent should pay and enforce the agreement.

But ministers now believe it is better to encourage parents to come to agreements themselves without having to resort to Government intervention.

They plan to charge parents who want to use the statutory system a �100 application fee, plus up to 12 per cent of any money paid in maintenance.

The issue was raised by Loughborough MP Nicky Morgan in the House of Commons this week, when she talked about several parents in her constituency who were afraid changes could make things worse.

One was a mother of two, who said she was owed �2,300 after being locked in a struggle with her ex-partner for years.

She said: "I'm not asking for anything that isn't due. If I don't get the money, then it makes it much harder to look after my children.

"If it doesn't come through then you have to make endless amounts of phone calls and ask for call backs but nothing happens.

"The amount of debt I'm in because of this situation is ridiculous and the changes suggested by the Government could just compound that."

One father living in the Loughborough area has a daughter from his current relationship, but is also paying child maintenance to his ex-partner. He said the CSA has never taken account of the fact he has a new daughter to look after.

He said: "They are doing this half-baked idea that doesn't feel properly thought through. In encouraging people to come to voluntary arrangements, they assume people are always reasonable, but when relationships break down they often aren't."

Speaking to Pensions Minister Steve Webb, Mrs Morgan said: "The system must be flexible enough to reflect both parents' incomes and who is taking the burden of financial responsibility for caring for the children."

Mr Webb said a minister would meet the MP to discuss individual cases but said there were strong powers in place to enforce payment.

Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503348/s/140c5c31/l/0L0Sthisisleicestershire0O0Cnews0CReforms0Echild0Esupport0Ecriticised0Carticle0E34280A770Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

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