Child support is changing
Child support is changing
In July 2006 the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced a fresh start for child support arrangements. A new organisation will be established to deliver child support in the future and the Department for Work and Pensions is consulting widely on the proposals on child support. The Northern Ireland Assembly will decide on the future policy needs for Northern Ireland, although it is likely that these will replicate the Great Britain changes. The new organisation in Northern Ireland will also be a decision for the Assembly.
However, in line with the Child Support Agency (CSA) Operational Improvement Plan 2006-2009, announced in February 2006, the Agency is continuing to improve its performance.
As part of this plan the Agency is starting to take quicker and firmer action to get more money to more children and in some circumstances will now use debt collection agencies to:
The debt collection agencies that the NICSA is working with have the authority to collect child maintenance payments by using deduction from earnings orders-taking money direct from earnings. Employers will be notified of any deductions to be taken using the same process as the NICSA. More detailed guidance will be provided at the time of any request to take deductions from earnings.
The Agency has also streamlined the administration of deduction from earnings orders. At present employers might have two deductions from earnings orders for one employee-this would happen if payments were due on both the old and new child support schemes. These deductions from earnings orders will now be combined.
The Agency has also introduced a scheme to allow some parents to pay maintenance payments by deduction from earnings on a voluntary basis. Again, more detailed guidance will be provided if any such arrangements are established.
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