Theresa May urged to scrap plans to write off £2.5 billion of child support payments owed by dead-beat dads
The Government wants to write off money owed to 970,000 single parents in legacy cases even though some claims are still contested
THERESA May is being urged to cancel “insulting” plans to write off £2.5 billion of child support payments owed by dead-beat dads.
Campaigners last night demanded Downing Street intervene amid rising uproar over the proposals from the Department of Work and Pensions.
The Government wants to write off money owed to 970,000 single parents in legacy cases over the past 20 years even though some claims are still contested.
It argues it’s not cost effective to attempt to chase the money.
The plans will absolve non-paying parents and leave short-changed parents with no way of going through the courts for compensation.
Outraged campaigners have compared the move to the Windrush fiasco in the Home Office earlier this year.
Sophie Walker, leader of the Women’s Equality Party, said: “The government’s plan to write off child support payments is an insult to single parents across the UK – especially those who are struggling to afford to give their kids the life they deserve.
“Despite having the powers to collect the debts the Government seems more worried about the cost of maintaining records of it.”
The Government consulted on the changes in December last year then confirmed its plans two months ago – and now wants to push it through Parliament.
Most of the 970,000 cases date back to the Child Support Agency, created in 1993 to free family courts from child maintenance cases.
The Sun Says
THE Government MUST ditch plans to write off billions in unpaid child support.
Single parents have it tough. They should have the Government’s unquestioned backing when former partners leech on their child support obligations.
The reasoning behind this decision might appear obvious on a spreadsheet that shows the cost of pursuing old cases isn’t worth the hassle.
But you try telling that to a mum or dad trying to make ends meet.
How civil servants managed to botch the administration of this scheme is an important question, but for another time.
Right now the Government need to stick by people who need their support.
The agency was closed in 2012 with arrears topping £3.7 billion - £2.5 billion to parents and just over £1 billion to the taxpayer.
Since 2012 legacy cases have been pursued as “resources allow”.
One Mum, Joanna Archer said: “The Government is planning to write-off £2.5 billion of arrears that isn’t even owed to them.
“They claim that the records cost too much to archive and are in any case inaccurate. Whose fault is that? It makes you wonder if the whole point of drawing a line under the CSA and moving to the CMS was a cynical attempt to hide their incompetence.”
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