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

30 Month Review - Impact of Child Maintenance Reforms Child Maintenance Policy April 2016 Child Maintenance Service

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 2

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 3

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 4

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 Child Maintenance Service 5