Widely resented CSA rule to be scrapped

A widely resented Child Support Agency rule will be scrapped for clients of the new scheme. This required some parents to pay maintenance even though they share the care of their children on a 50-50 basis. In future no maintenance will need to be paid in cases like these where care is shared equally.

The Government is also making changes to the way maintenance is calculated to get closer to equalising the treatment of children living with and living apart from the non-resident parent.

John, who worked out a consensual equal shared-care arrangement with his ex, welcomes the end of maintenance liability for parents who share the care of their children equally. He said: "I think this change is absolutely fantastic. Despite having an amicable relationship with my ex, the CSA stepped in and it's financially crippled me. It's important that children get equal access to their mum and dad and that both of them pay for things during the time the kids are with them. It's completely wrong to then demand that the father pays the mother extra money when she faces the same financial responsibility as he does for the kids when they're in her care".

Work and Pensions Minister Maria Miller said: “The Government wants to encourage and support parents to make their own family-based arrangements whenever possible because they are better for families. We are also committed to providing a much better statutory service for those separated parents for whom this is not possible. We will be introducing the new scheme through a pathfinder from October. It will be faster and simpler than the two Child Support Agency schemes now in operation. And most importantly, it will be fairer for both mums and dads.”