The UK government has revealed plans to speed up the penalties for parents who refuse to provide financial support for their children. Enforcement times will be reduced from six months to just six weeks, according to the planned reforms. The Department for Work and Pensions will also end the £20 application fee for parents seeking legal intervention over maintenance fees that have gone unpaid. Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said the new rules would make the system more equitable for parents and children. However, he added that the vast majority of parents endeavoured to support their children as best they could.
Approximately 10,000 non-paying parents may be affected each year, according to government estimates. Last year, the government confirmed it would be scrapping the £20 fee and made the announcement that it would come into effect from 26 February this year. The CMS (Child Maintenance Service) will be the first point of call for parents who require its assistance. Monday’s response to a consultation on non-payment of maintenance will clarify more measures that can be put in place to ensure better recovery of maintenance payments.
The administration says the CMS will be allowed to use an administrative liability order to recover unpaid child maintenance fees, rather than applying to the courts. More new powers could be put in effect too. For instance, cases featuring debts equal to or less than £7 in inactive cases will be wiped out, leaving the authorities free to go after bigger debts. This approach should result in a four-fold decrease in enforcement time.
The Department for Work and Pensions plans to implement the amended legislation into Parliament during the spring. These proposed improvements aim to streamline the fines system for non-payment of maintenance fees and reduce evasiveness by unscrupulous parents
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