Child support revamp imminent

The new child support scheme will come into effect on 3
March.

Under the new system, non-resident parents will pay 15 per cent
of net income for one child, 20 per cent for two children and 25
per cent for three children or more.

For non-resident parents with net incomes of less than £100
a week or those receiving various benefits including income support
and jobseekers’ allowance, child maintenance will be set at a
flat rate of £5 a week.

A new child maintenance premium will mean that, for the first
time, parents with care on income support or income-based
jobseekers’ allowance who are on the new scheme will be able
to keep up to £10 a week of any maintenance paid for their
children.

The new system will apply to new cases only but may be extended
to existing cases if it is seen to be working well.