Index: the reformed child support system
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By now, most people affected by the CSA know that it is being reformed,
and a new scheme is being introduced. Many of these people know that it
is something to do with paying 15% or 20% or 25% of income depending on
how many children there are. Few people know a lot more than that.
I am publishing articles here that step-by-step describe the new scheme.
My aim is to help people understand how they will be affected, and when
this will be. I am not trying to turn everyone into experts, able to quote
the laws, and able to quote statistics. People who want that level of
detail will find it elsewhere on my web site.
| Page |
Abstract |
| A bit of history of child
support |
This gives a quick overview from
the Finer Report ("The Report of the Committee on One Parent
Families" 1974), through the 1991 and 1995 Acts, to now. |
| The reform process |
The Labour Party said that it would
reform the child support system if it won the 1997 general election.
It won, and immediately started the reform process. The result was
the 2000 Child Support, Pensions, and Social Security Act. Here is
what happened. |
| The timetable for the
reforms |
The "Child Support, Pensions, and Social Security Act 2000"
has about 3 dozen sections in it that define changes to the way
the CSA works. Although most people think of the reforms as a new,
simplified, formula, they are far more than this. About one third
of the child support sections of the Act came into operation during
2001, mainly during January and April.
|
| The basics of the new
formula |
The new formula isn't quite as simple
as it is often made out to be, but there are very few things that
are taken into account. Here are the basics. |
| The effect
of benefits & tax credits |
The reformed child support system
mostly treats benefits and tax credits in a similar way to the existing
system, with a few very important exceptions. The important exceptions
are described here. |
| Penalties and default
liabilities |
Changes in the 2000 Child Support,
Pensions And Social Security Act include penalties, new punishments,
and changes to what happens before the CSA has sufficient information.
Here is an overview. |
| How partners are handled
in the reformed system |
(This page is not yet complete).
The reformed system is far less intrusive about what is needs to
know about partners of the NRP. This summarises the few cases where
they are taken into account. (Partners of the PWC are ignored).
|
| Presuming and establishing
paternity |
Some important changes have been made to paternity issues, especially
those bringing England & Wales into line with Scotland. On the
whole child support responsibility is based on biological parenthood,
but there are exceptions.
|
| Variations (the new
name for departures) |
(This page is not yet complete).
The aim is to have have fewer variations per year than there are
departures per year at the moment.
|
[ Next ]
Other simple introductions
The CSA itself: CSA home
page | CSA
questions & answers | Child
Support Reforms Information Service | Child
Support Reform
Durham Legal Services: DLS
home page | "The
New Child Support, Pensions & Social Security Act 2000".
|