NEW Child Maintenance Service

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A new child maintenance scheme is being launched later this year. The new scheme is designed to encourage parents to reach their own, family based arrangements rather than involve the Government at all.

However, if parents do wish to use the statutory service then they will be charged to use of the new scheme, this will include an application charge, ongoing collection charges where the non-resident parent is unwilling to pay direct and maintenance has to taken from them by the Government, and charges for enforcement.

When the scheme is introduced, the CSA will stop taking new applications and it will start to close existing cases. This process is expected to take at least 2-3 years. Parents with CSA cases that are closing will be given information and support to help them decide whether to make a family-based arrangement or apply to the new scheme.

All of these changes are in written in primary legislation in the Welfare Reform Act 2012 although the Government will be consulting on the detail of the charging and case closure regulations later this year.

Also, the Government intends to abolish the Child Maintenance Commission this year, at which point its functions will be transferred back to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

If you''d like some more information about how the CSA works out child maintenance, visit direct.gov.uk. For information and support on family-based arrangments, call the Options team on 0800 988 0988.