Impact of Child Maintenance Reforms Child Maintenance Policy April - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Child Maintenance Service

30 Month Review - Impact of Child Maintenance Reforms

Child Maintenance Policy April 2016

Child Maintenance Service 2

Aims

• To understand external perceptions of the

effects/impacts of the introduction of charging

• To focus our minds on areas for consideration both

within the 30 month review and beyond

Child Maintenance Service 3

Background

• Reforms to child maintenance were introduced in 2012 and

intended to be a ‘fresh start’ for child maintenance

• We are closing all 1993 and 2003 legacy cases, parents have

the choice to apply to the new 2012 scheme, or make a family based arrangement

• Application fees and collection charges were introduced in 2014
• The Government made a statutory commitment to review the

impact of child maintenance charges 30 months after they were introduced – by December 2016.

• The 30 month review will also consider the effects of direct pay,

rates of applications and other arrangements – either family based, or no arrangement

Child Maintenance Service 4

2012 scheme

• The 2012 Scheme was introduced as part of the government’s

reform of the child maintenance system to support separated parents to work together and set up their own family-based arrangements.

• As we close legacy cases, the number of 2012 cases continues

to increase - as at the end of May 2016 the caseload was 285,500

• 88% of non-resident parents are contributing towards their

current liability, with 89% of cash due, paid.

• The number of Children Benefiting from maintenance also

continues to increase and, in the quarter to May 2016, stood at 250,800.

Child Maintenance Service 5

30 month review

• A review of the effect of charging and the impact of the wider reforms

based on data up to mid-2016

• The approach to evaluation and the 30 month review was informed by

stakeholders back in 2014 and is included in the published evaluation strategy

• Will focus on the following specific areas:
• Rates of applications to the 2012 scheme
• Analysing alternative arrangements – Family based

arrangement or no arrangement

• The effects of Direct Pay
• Levels of charging
• Child maintenance in wider society
• Interim report on the case closure programme
• The review will be complete by the end of December 2016 and response

published in two parts - an analytical report and a policy response