The government has made proposals for a new child maintenance scheme, its aim being to reform the present scheme which is felt to be complex and over-bureaucratic.
The government has proposed a charge of either £100 or £50 for those on benefits only, if they require the help of the state to obtain child maintenance. Initially parents viewed the Child Support Agency as the default option in relation to child maintenance following a separation. However the government by introducing these charges reinforces its view that it wishes for parents to try to agree between themselves what child maintenance should be given.
The government has introduced a gateway to the scheme to ensure that parents are first supported to take responsibility and make family based arrangements before they resort to the statutory maintenance system. The introduction of charges is intended to encourage families to make choices which are in the best interests of their children. The choices by parents can be made at various points to avoid the application of fees.
It is at the mandatory gateway stage parents will receive full support and advice so that they can come to their own arrangements for the child maintenance which is to be received. If the parents wish to bypass the gateway stage then the charge will be applied. The charge for those not on benefits will be £100 upfront whilst those on benefits would pay £20 paid upfront and the remaining £30 in instalments with the further instalments only becoming payable if maintenance is in payment.
The charges would be placed on both parents, to ensure fairness. As a result a collection surcharge on the non-resident parent will be introduced as a contribution towards the cost of the service. The surcharge will be applied as a percentage of the maintenance which is due to be paid. Although the level of the collection surcharge is still being considered, it is proposed that it will be between 15% to 20% on non-resident parents and between &% to 12% on parents with care. If however the parents choose to make a mutually agreed family based arrangement then they will pay no charges.
This overall is a scheme designed for the parents to co-operate especially whilst undergoing separation. The guiding principle is that parents will achieve what is best for them as the child maintenance payment will be agreed mutually by both parents.
