News In Focus
11 January 2010
Children may miss out on maintenance, survey finds
Children could be missing out because too many parents don’t know how to sort out child maintenance after separation, according to a major survey from YouGov published to coincide with the launch of a new advisory service.
Child Maintenance Options is a free public information and support service which helps separated parents to decide which child maintenance arrangement best suits their circumstances. The confidential service also signposts people to other sources of support on issues such as family separation, debt, housing, and employment.
The Department for Work and Pensions estimates that around 300,000 couples with children separate each year. In a poll of over 900 separated parents with children aged 18 or below, the overwhelming majority (93%) believe mothers and fathers still have a financial responsibility to their children even if they don’t live with them. But over a third (36%) said they didn’t know where to go to get impartial information about child maintenance.
None of the parents polled were compelled to use the Child Support Agency, yet over a quarter (27%) were unaware they could make maintenance arrangements privately, without involving third parties. This has been the position since October 2008, whether or not the parent is in receipt of benefits.
Service
Janet Paraskeva, Chair of Child Maintenance Options said: “Too many children are missing out, partly because parents – during what is already a very confusing time – are receiving conflicting advice. Child Maintenance Options is here to provide the facts and explain the different types of arrangements everyone can now make. It’s designed to help both parents, as well as family members and friends of people going through separation.”
Not knowing where to get information was not the only issue parents identified. Having to involve third parties was seen by many as a barrier to sorting out child maintenance – 29% said they didn’t want to involve lawyers, and 31% didn’t want to involve the CMEC.
Find out about child maintenance at www.cmoptions.org or call the freephone helpline on 0800 988 0988 (open Monday to Friday 8am-8pm, and Saturday 9am-4pm).