DWP Cracks Down on Deadbeat Parents with New Child Maintenance Rules
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is slamming the brakes on parents who dodge child maintenance payments. New rules kick in this month to speed up the chase for money owed to kids.
No More Application Fee – Child Maintenance Service Goes Free
From February 26, 2024, the £20 fee to apply to the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is getting the chop. This move comes after government talks aimed at making it easier and quicker to get payments from persistent late-payers.
Faster Enforcement: Liability Orders Slashed from 22 to 8 Weeks
The DWP promises lightning-fast action to grab owed cash. Liability order processing times will plunge from around 22 weeks to just 6-8 weeks. Plus, small debts under £7 in silent cases will be wiped clean, clearing the backlog.
Ministers Back Tough Stance on Non-Payers
“Those who shirk the financial responsibilities they have for their children must be quickly held to account,” said Mel Stride MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
DWP Minister Viscount Younger added, “By scrapping application fees, we’re making sure struggling families can get the support they need without barriers. The CMS is vital in protecting UK children’s futures.”
These changes target around 10,000 parents each year and mark a big leap towards a fairer system that puts children’s welfare first.
