Child Support Agency fails to up collection rates and loses accuracy

Child Support Agency maintenance collection rates have failed to improve over the past year while the accuracy of its calculations has fallen, figures out yesterday  showed.

In the quarter ending 31 March 2007, the agency had collected 90% of maintenance due, a figure that had remained broadly flat over the previous year.

In the 12 months to March 2007, 79% of cases on the CSA’s new scheme, which began in March 2003, and 83% of old scheme cases were accurate to the nearest penny, down from 81% and 84% respectively.

However, the CSA is clearing applications more quickly. Of new applications received in December 2006, 61% had been cleared, as against 53% in December 2005.

In 2008, the CSA will be replaced by a Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, which will carry out similar functions but be more arms-length from government.