An MP’s guide to child maintenance

RedSky

Stumbled across this Dec 2012 leaflet for the benefit of our MPs to explain CSA3 changes, referred to as the 2012 scheme - http://www.w4mp.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/CMEC-MP-Leaflet-Dec-2012.pdf

Sensemaya

Hi

Perhaps we could add this to the sticky?

Just started to read it and I find this amusing: Where to direct constituents if they have an enquiry re: child maintenance.

Answer:Child Maintenence Options!!!!

What a cop out. The constituent wouldn't be contacting the MP if they didn't have a problem. Mind you that's the name of the game -keep the torture going for as long as poss.

The real answer is to get the MP's assistant to phone the Parliamentary hotline!!!

I will continue reading.

Edit: Page 34 does mention the hotline!

I could wax lyrical about all this. Also be interesting to see if existing cases do get moved over within 3 years...

kevin137

I particularly like this comment...

Why a reformed child maintenance system?

Around half of all children in separated families do not benefit from an effective child maintenance arrangement, showing that the current system is failing. The Government’s reform programme will put in place better support to help separated parents work together on the issues they face at separation and, in particular, to make family-based maintenance arrangements.

Really, so you admit you fail in half the cases, but you still pursue them with such vigour as to make them worse... Lovely...!!!

kevin137

Frequently asked questions
When is a paying parent no longer expected to pay child maintenance for a child?
A ‘qualifying child’ is defined in child support legislation as:
• under the age of 16, or
• between 16 and their 20th birthday and undertaking full-time,
non-advanced education, or
• between 16 and their 20th birthday, registered with certain types of government-approved training courses, and child benefit is
in payment.
Previously the upper age limit was the 19th birthday, but this changed in late 2012 to bring the age limits in line with those of Child Benefit. This change applies to all the child maintenance schemes.
The child must live in the UK. They must also live with the receiving parent, although there are some exceptions to this rule. Children at boarding school or who are hospitalised long-term are still classed as qualifying children. This is different to the 1993 and 2003 schemes.

I don't know if anyone else is reading this, but there seems to be a few mistakes..

The 1st in here is there is still no legislation that connects CB to CSA so that would be wrong, and if it has changed legally i would love to see the legislation...!!!

The 2nd is that the child must live in the UK, but that is not the case for a child to be receiving CB so does the child actually have to be in the UK or just in receipt, if it is in receipt there is another contradiction, as you do NOT have to be in the UK to be receiving CB...

Sensemaya

kevin137 wrote: »

I don't know if anyone else is reading this, but there seems to be a few mistakes..

The 1st in here is there is still no legislation that connects CB to CSA so that would be wrong, and if it has changed legally i would love to see the legislation...!!!

The 2nd is that the child must live in the UK, but that is not the case for a child to be receiving CB so does the child actually have to be in the UK or just in receipt, if it is in receipt there is another contradiction, as you do NOT have to be in the UK to be receiving CB...

Typical:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:And this is info provided to our MPs.

guruchelles

I only skim-read it, but two things:

1. There's going to be a set amount related to the NRP's income band??
2. If you want the scheme to collect the money for you you'll have to pay a fee??

Cally_Smart

Kevin137 that is exactly the paragraph that I quoted to my husband just before he left this morning !
From what I can make out it seems full of contradictions.
Here we go again !

RedSky

kevin137 wrote: »

I don't know if anyone else is reading this, but there seems to be a few mistakes..

The 1st in here is there is still no legislation that connects CB to CSA so that would be wrong, and if it has changed legally i would love to see the legislation...!!!

The 2nd is that the child must live in the UK, but that is not the case for a child to be receiving CB so does the child actually have to be in the UK or just in receipt, if it is in receipt there is another contradiction, as you do NOT have to be in the UK to be receiving CB...

To be fair this is a high level summary and general notification for busy MPs opposed to a detailed explanation of all the caveats and variations that exist within current legislation. It is a leaflet after all opposed to a multi-volume publication.

kevin137

Maybe it is exactly what you say... But that means that WRONG advice will be given and the MP's won't understand what they are advising on...

Makes a mockery of them being there then really doesn't it...??? So why bother paying them at all... Just post this through every door and be done with it...

It is also the reason the CSA get away with so much, because if the MP's don't even know the rules and what is right and wrong, then how can they help and advise on such a serious matter...

CB and the legality of it being used to claim is paramount for the CSA to continue there lies, and this muddies the water further and gives the impression it is law, when in fact it is not. And you only have to look at the press today to see how many claim CB when not in the country, and if it is claimed then the CSA MUST yes MUST be able to pursue a claim against you as that is what the guidelines say...

RedSky

I don't know the ins and outs of whether there is or is not legislation that links CB to CM and I won't be trawling through CM legislation to try to find it.

All I am aware of are strong opinions on here that there is no link and contradictory official statements from top MPs such Maria Miller in 2011 - "for children between the ages of 16 and 19, the criterion used for deciding whether they are considered a qualifying child for child maintenance purposes is if child benefit is in payment for that child" - http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2011-09-13a.70697.h

Personally, until someone who believes it is not linked challenges the officials that believe it is linked, then I can only presume there is some credibility behind the official statements.

Own_My_Own

Sorry if this has been asked before, but as the subject has popped up on the thread I thought I would ask.

If Child Maintenance is linked to Child Benefit, what happens to all the families that have just lost CB due to earnings ? How do they prove they are the PWC and/or the child is still in education in any CSA case.