In 2007, the Liberal Democrats revealed that the Child Support Agency (CSA) had failed to collect maintenance in 34% of cases where one parent owed money. That figure was 4% higher than it had been in 2006, meaning more parents (and figures aren’t separated for men and women) weren’t paying their child support.
If you're unsure whether you're paying or receiving the correct amount, you can check the figures using our free Child Maintenance Calculator.
In fact, in 2006, the Agency had a backlog of some 330,000 cases and over £3 billion in unrecovered debt. That’s a lot of unpaid maintenance, and a lot of people walking away scot free. By late 2008, the CSA calculated the figure of those not paying to be 31% – that’s still over 172,000 cases.
How Did It Happen?
Much of the problem actually lies not with the parents – most of whom are men – but with the CSA itself. Since its establishment it had undergone problems, which were worsened by the installation of a new computer system that was supposed to speed up the process, but ended up causing chaos.
That’s not to say the CSA has been completely ineffective. In 2006/7, it prosecuted 485 people for non-payment of maintenance, and took the controversial step of naming and shaming on their website another 40 whom they’d taken to court for providing false information or no information at all. They added details of the proceedings in court and the sentences received by the guilty, all of whom were men.
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Among that large backlog of cases – which has been reduced, and the CSA estimates it can recover almost £2 billion of the money owed – are all kinds of people. There are professionals, labourers, those who earn a lot of money and those scraping by on benefits. There are some, like prisoners, who simply can’t pay, some who won’t pay because of disputes with their ex or over paternity, and those who are waiting to have their cases adjudicated. In Northern Ireland, the figure owed by absent parents is £3.6 million, and a stunning £41 million in South Yorkshire.
In other words, there’s no set demographic to those who owe, and they’re actually not all the deadbeat dads the tabloids claim. Many will pay, but there are also those who will have to be taken to court.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
What Happens to Those Who Don’t Pay?
If a non-resident parent doesn’t Pay Child Maintenance, and the resident parent uses the CSA’s collection service, the Agency will contact the debtor to try to arrange payment, including arrears. It can access information from HM Revenue & Customs to try to track people down.
Where they can’t reach an agreement with the person who owes money, they can impose late payment penalties (up to 25% of the amount owing) and arrange to have the money garnished from wages as a deduction from earnings.
In some instances, they will take the person to court, although this is generally a last resort. The first thing they’ll do is obtain a liability order, and even then payment arrangements can still be made. In 2007/8, over 19,000 liability orders were obtained in England and Wales.
Where the CSA does obtain a judgement, there are a number of possibilities open to them, including the seizure of goods and disqualification from driving, which could affect employment. The guilty would also owe court costs. In total, 35 people were imprisoned in 2007/8 and another 400 got suspended sentences.
How the CSA is Changing
Although it won’t have any effect on penalties, the CSA was taken over by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in November 2008. It’s worth noting that the collection of child support is becoming more effective. The CSA collected £1.1 billion in the year ending September 2008, benefiting over 750,000 children.
I didn’t think this was right so I continued to pay for him so was paying way more then the csa had instructed.
Then 2 months ago I was sent another letter from the csa adding my eldest now 17 back on the csa & saying I am in arrears for all the previous months.
I’ve sent them every bank statement showing that I never changed my payments & continued to pay for all 3 kids.
Despite having all the proof they are refusing to remove the arrears that I don’t owe……….what can I do as they don’t appear to want to do what’s right ??
I just can’t afford to keep paying what they are asking
I have my kids every weekend & get no over night discounts as there mum refuses to admit I have them at all……..they have never missed & weekend & even stay in the holidays
Cut a long story short recently found out I wasn't that father to a child after paying maintenance for 14 years I have proved to csm through csm originally I thought I would only receive a years payments back (time I contested the parentage) it has taking since July to sort (still not ) I have just received a call from csm asking for bank statements from a period of 2016-2016 we it was set up through them but paid through are banks to each other they need to add this amount then can finalise and release the money my question is would they be refunding me my payments going back 4 years ??
I pay cm for my 18 Yr old daughter out my carers allowance (she harmed my disabled son hence doesn't live with me) which is more than my sons father now has decided that's all he is paying (ironically my ex hubby - daughters cm I pay - earns more in a month than I get in a year. So it's not just men who get screwed by the system, and I am seriously ill and 24 hr carer
As for my child’s Father he has a good income and comes from a wealthy background. He has made payments to his Son which I have put into his savings. However his Father misses payments and he has avoided the CSA claiming he in on benefits when he owns a gym and has recently bought his partner a new car. I find as a human being and as a parent I would be deeply ashamed and also deeply embarrassed if I could not provide for my child nor give them what they are entitled too. It is disgusting for any parent to with hold payments, their child should be their main priority and focus in life. Putting them first is paramount and buying new cars or going on holidays isn’t important. It is awful that some people do not see what is important in life. Children should come first. I hope someday the laws that are in America come in to law here. The percentage of non payments would soon drop!
We are in modern times gone are the days when one parent is the provider and the other the child care. Both parents can equally provide and care for the children and this is the position that all divorces and separation should commence from.
If you can’t afford to support the children during your time with them then the other parent should get the chance to increase their time with the children.
This stops CMS financially rewarding one parent for limiting the others access and help to ensure the best arrangements can be made for the children.
It’s also should not be called child maintenance, no one is making sure the children see any of the payments it is ex-spousal/partner maintenance payment. No other aspect of life are you forced to handover your money with no say on how it is spent... at least with tax you get to vote and have some say.
Especially of children your X' may not allow you to have contact with,
Is extremely against your Human Rights.
When the CMS Paperwork falls on your doorstep..DONT PANIC!
You DO NOT ...DO NOT..
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES...
Have to give them your NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBER...(SO DONT)
They will try their best over the phone to intimidate you to do so.
Tell them your a PART TIME Cleaner..etc
They will take an assumptive 'GUESS' Rate based on YOUR INFORMATION.
DO NOT GIVE YOUR N.INSURANCE NMB
THEY WILL NEVER HAVE ACCESS TO THIS UNLESS 'YOU' TELL THEM..ITS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.
THEN ..Never contact them again/write/call them...lie LOW.
OR IF THEY HAVE THIS N.INS NUMBER ALREADY....YOU HAVE TO GO
SELF EMPLOYED..& MAKE THEM 'Guess'
Your income again.
DO NOT TAKE YOUR OWN LIFE ...
THEY ARE WORSE THAN THE MAFIA
BUT REMEMBER.....
THEY CANT GET ONE OVER IF YOU TAKE THIS ADVICE.
Your disability benefits will be more than £25,000 pa tax free.
As Bob Marley says:
‘Once a man and twice a child,
and everything is just for a while’...
I hope you get well to meet your sons’.
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