Survey of Child Support Agency Case Closure Outcomes
These are findings from a study about the child maintenance outcomes of separated parents who previously had cases with the Child Support Agency.
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Summary
This is a report of findings from a study about the child maintenance outcomes of separated parents who previously had cases with the Child Support Agency.
Research background
In 2012, the Government set out its vision for a new child maintenance system, where collaborative family-based arrangements between separated parents would be encouraged wherever possible.
As part of these reforms, all Child Support Agency (CSA) cases with on-going maintenance liabilities have been closed and the CSA has been replaced with a new statutory Child Maintenance Service (CMS).
There is no requirement for separated families to have a child maintenance arrangement, families may not want an arrangement, and in some cases a statutory arrangement with the CMS may not be possible (e.g. if a non-resident parent lives abroad).
Contribution to the evidence base
The aim of this research was to measure the child maintenance outcomes for parents whose CSA cases were closed.
This report builds on an earlier programme of research among parents whose cases were in the first four segments to be closed
This research specifically covers outcomes for those in the Segment 4 ‘compliant (system)’ and Segment 5 ‘enforcement’ cases. Segment 4 consists of cases that were handled by the CSA’s IT systems. All cases in this segment were compliant and did not have any ‘enforcement’ action in place. Segment 5 cases are ‘enforcement’ cases where the method of payment was by Deduction from Earnings Order or where other ‘enforcement’ action was in progress.
This current report therefore increases our understanding of:
- What types of child maintenance arrangements were set up following the closure of a parent’s CSA case
- Whether these arrangements are working well or not
- Why arrangements work well or not
- The decision-making process around setting up a new arrangement
- The effects of the CMS charges on decision making around choosing an arrangement type
- Paying parents’ perceptions of the case closure process
Other Information
Official statistics on the progress of the CSA case closure programme were produced quarterly until December 2018
Official statistics on the CSA were produced quarterly until June 2021.
Official statistics on the Child Maintenance Service are published quarterly