DWP issues 'support for families' update and says it 'closes today'
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has issued a "support for families" update as it moves forward to make sure "children get the maintenance they deserve". The government department is responsible for distributing pensions and many benefits, as well as looking after people's welfare.
As such, it keeps its many customers regularly updated and in a new post on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday many people were urged to act before midnight tonight. The post reads: "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 link included within the alert explains that 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 adds that child maintenance payments keep around 160,000 children out of poverty each year.
Part of a foreword from former Minister for Lords, Viscount Younger of Leckie, reads: "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's foreword adds: "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