The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared a "support for families" update as it strives to make sure "children get the maintenance they deserve". The government body is tasked with distributing pensions and numerous benefits, as well as safeguarding people's welfare.
In this regard, it regularly updates its many customers and in a post on X on Monday, people have been urged to take action before midnight tonight. The post states: "The Child Maintenance Service consultation closes today at 23:59."
"Share your views to improve support for families and ensure children get the maintenance they deserve". Part of a linked article included in the post explains the "aim of this consultation is to seek views on how the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) collects and transfers maintenance payments to ensure children receive the maintenance they are entitled to and parents are appropriately supported when using the scheme."
The consultation is "open to voluntary and community sector organisations, as well as CMS customers and members of the general public." DWP further notes that child maintenance payments keep approximately 160,000 children out of poverty annually.
Viscount Younger of Leckie's comments from the foreword were emphatic, as he highlighted reforms to aid low-income families and said: "I was very pleased to introduce regulations to remove the £20 application fee so that the poorest families are not deterred from accessing the CMS. In addition, we have published our response to the consultation on administrative liability orders to implement the measures brought forward in the Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023, which will transform the way the CMS uses its tougher enforcement action against persistently non-compliant parents."
"All this is aimed at ensuring that more children, especially those most in need, receive more maintenance and get a better start in life as a result. But more remains to be done."
"Many parents choose to make their own family-based arrangements without state support, and I believe this continues to be the best outcome for families and children so I want to ensure that the system is doing all it can to encourage parents to make, and sustain, these arrangements. For those who cannot make their own arrangement, the CMS must continue to be a safety net."
Viscount Younger of Leckie went on to say: "I want to ensure the government understands public views on potential changes to how the CMS collects and transfers maintenance payments". People can share their views here.
