Petition to the Government

Please read and sign our petition by clicking on one of the links.

We, the undersigned, as friends and members of A Fairer CSA For All, petition the Government for the introduction of a fairer Child Support system.

Without doubt, for those that are failed by the Governments Child Support Agency (soon to be CMEC), who  inattentively and recklessly implement Child Support legislation, it consequently leaves many non resident parents (NRP) and parents with care (PWC), along with their children and current partners, genuinely suffering financial hardship/poverty.                  

The CSA does not consider the detriment that Agency actions can cause to ALL involved, including qualifying children and relevant others. Deprivation is not healthy and does not promote balance for our future adults, all children need to be equal.

*The CSA currently owe NO legal duty of care to any of its clients. The Law states, that 'if an application could be dealt with by the CSA, then it must be pursued there'. - For the majority of us, if a private agreement is unobtainable, the system has taken jurisdiction away from the court and we are legally forced to use the CSA.

Both the CSA & soon to be CMEC need to be  legally recognised as 'owing a duty of care' to ALL its clients and as such, enabling any person/s dissatisfied with the standard of service received, to seek redress through the court system.

*In many cases second/blended families consist of a NRP and a PWC, both from first families, who unite and become a family unit in their own right. The NRP's income is used for the purpose of calculating any award of Tax Credits, for ALL children step or otherwise. Child Tax Credits, are to financially support the child, in addition to the income of the household it is paid to.                                                                            
It is hypocritical and unjust to include this income, paid by the Government who deem the payment of such, as preventing the receiving family from living in hardship and/or poverty, as assessable income. Any Child Tax Credits paid to a family unit be free from assessment.

*Disability elements paid along with Tax Credit Awards, are paid to a family to financially assist with the extra costs and care required, by the disabled child to whom they are awarded. It is an inhumane disgrace that our Government can deem the inclusion of such acceptable, and has NO PLACE IN THIS COUNTRY. No person other than the disabled person should benefit financially from these awards. Disability elements should be disregarded along with DLA and other disability benefits.

*New regulations soon to be in force, mean PWC on benefits will be allowed to retain up to £40 of Child Support received, without losing any benefit.

Why should hard working parents, who choose to work be discriminated against? Tax Credits should be amended to make the same true for the working PWC.

*Agency maladministration, delays and errors are a common cause for NRP's accruing arrears. Extortionate repayment amounts towards arrears, as well as regular maintenance payments, are resulting in poverty for the NRP and their family. Whilst awaiting Agency actions PWC are left in hardship.

When the Agency are partially/fully responsible for the accrued arrears, the collection of such should be determined by making allowances for the NRPs family/personal circumstances Under such circumstances, the PWC should be given a reasonable and relative lump sum payment where the agency is at fault.

*When assessing the NRP income, only earnings relating to their weekly contracted hours, up to 40 hours, should be calculated at the full percentage used in the case. Subsequent income such as overtime, bonus and second jobs to be calculated at a reduced rate of 5%.

*Shared care is a major problem which is not addressed by CMEC. Actual legislation is required to make sure neither PWC nor NRP are deceitful with regard contact and length of visits. Contact for a full day, should be treat as such and a one full day reduction implemented and so on. It matters not where the child spent the night asleep.

*In efforts to meet their 'targets', the Agency focus on compliant parents, pushing them to the extreme, in their attempt to 'get more money to more children' - However, little has improved for PWC families, with truly non compliant NRP's and they still have little hope of receiving payments in respect of child support. The Agency should use its energy and resources to chase true non-complaints. Most NRP's want to help with the upkeep of their children. The Agencies heavy handedness is causing untold problems. Not all NRP's fall into the 'deadbeat' club.

*The CSA receives more complaints per client than any other Government dept. (Tax Credits have more complaints, but more clients). Complaints are currently dealt with the complaints dept of the CSA.  An independent organisation to deal with complaints, it is impossible for the CSA to remain impartial. All complaints no matter how trivial should be dealt fairly and with balance.

*THE CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY SHOULD KEEP THE GOVERNMENTS PROMISE, TO REDUCE ALL CHILD POVERTY IN THIS COUNTRY.     

SADLY, THEY ARE CREATING IT - THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE DRASTICALLY!

Please sign our petition by clicking here.