Changes to child support
- When will all this happen?
- Will the CSA be closed?
- When can I move to the new rules/ new system/new way of sorting out child maintenance?
- My case is still on the 'old scheme' - will this now transfer to the new scheme?
- How will I be kept informed?
Q. When will all this happen?
A. The new organisation and the development of the new scheme will be introduced in stages over a number of years.
2008-2009
Since 27 October 2008 parents with care on benefits have had the choice of either using the statutory maintenance service (operated by the CSA) or making a private agreement. They are able to consider their choices of arrangement supported by an information and support service, Child Maintenance Options. Also, in October 2008, the £10 per week disregard was doubled to £20 per week and extended to those who were on the old scheme.
Find out more about the changes to child maintenance.
An expected timetable for further change is as follows:
2010
In April 2010 a full benefit disregard was introduced.
2011
It is planned that new applications to a new 'gross income' child maintenance scheme will begin. Existing clients on the CSA current schemes will be invited to apply to the new scheme, a process that is anticipated to continue for three years.
2013-2014
The new child maintenance system is planned to be fully operational.
Q. Will the CSA be closed?
A. The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission (The Commission) has taken over responsibility for the Child Support Agency's work. The CSA will continue to operate both schemes until all clients have either moved to the new 'gross income' scheme or made a private arrangement. It is planned that applications to the new 'gross income' child maintenance scheme will begin in 2011.
Q. When can I move to the new rules/new system/new way of sorting out child maintenance?
A. On current plans, the Commission expects to introduce the new 'gross income' scheme in 2011. From that time, parents with existing 'old rules' or 'current rules' cases will be asked to choose whether they wish to apply to use the 'gross income' scheme or make a private arrangement with the other parent. This process is expected to take around three years. We expect minimum disruption and continuity of service for those parents who wish to stay with a statutory arrangement, and parents will be supported through the reapplication process.
Find out more information if you have a case with the CSA that is assessed under the 'old rules' and want information about how cases transfer to the 'current rules'.
Q. My case is still on the 'old scheme' - will this now transfer to the new scheme?
A. There will not now be an across-the-board transfer of cases from the original child maintenance ('old rules') system to the current system introduced by the reforms in 2003 ('current rules').
An old rules case will continue to be transferred to current rules if it becomes linked to a case dealt with under the current rules. That is because the law says that we must work out child maintenance for linked cases under the same rules. An example of how a cases will be moved from the old rules to the current rules is:
- a parent with care already receives child maintenance for one child
- they make an application for another child on or after 3 March 2003, and
- that child has a different non-resident parent to the child the parent with care already receives child maintenance for.
Another example when we will move a child maintenance case to the current scheme is if:
- a non-resident parent is paying child maintenance under the old scheme
- they have a child with another person, and
- that person makes a claim for child maintenance through us on or after 3 March 2003.
On current plans, the Commission expects to introduce a new 'gross income' scheme in 2011. From that time, parents with existing 'old rules' or 'current rules' cases will be asked to choose whether they wish to apply to use the 'gross income' scheme or make a private arrangement with the other parent. This process is expected to take around three years. We expect minimum disruption and continuity of service for those parents who wish to stay with the CSA, and parents will be supported through the reapplication process.
Q. How will I be kept informed?
A. We will keep clients informed of any decisions made that will impact on them.
Related information
- The White Paper 'A new system of child maintenance' can be viewed on the DWP website.
