Children let down on CSA payments (From Daily Echo)

Children let down on CSA payments

11:10am Monday 30th January 2012 in Politics

CHILDREN across Hampshire are being let down by the current financial support system, according to the Government.

The Department of Work and Pensions revealed that 24 per cent of parents in Southampton are still not getting regular maintenance payments for their children from the Child Support Agency (CSA).

The Government wants to overhaul the system through its Welfare Reform Bill and defended its plans to charge single parents for using the CSA.

Proposals are for an upfront charge of £100 or £50 plus a levy of up to 12 per cent on maintenance payments applying if a single parent has taken reasonable steps to get the other parent to come to a voluntary agreement on child support.

The Government argues the new scheme will have better enforcement powers, be faster, more accurate and, for the first time, maintenance assessments will be reviewed annually to make sure they stay correct.

According to Government figures 20 per cent of parents in Eastleigh are still are not getting regular maintenance payments for their children from the CSA.

In Winchester, the figure is 19 per cent, the New Forest 20 per cent and Test Valley 21 per cent of parents are affected.