Record Numbers of Children Across Great Britain Benefit From Child Maintenance

The latest performance figures released today show that 768,000 children are now benefiting from maintenance payments - an extra 65,000 compared to the previous year and an increase of 207,000 since March 2005, before the Agency’s Operational Improvement Plan was launched.

Of the £1.05 billion benefiting children - an increase of £252m since March 05 - a total of £137.6m collected was arrears. Both figures represent the highest level of money ever collected or arranged in a 12 month period.

Child Maintenance Minister James Plaskitt praised the latest figures as further evidence of the Agency’s progress, and said:

“These results show the CSA is continuing to get more money to more children and make a real difference to their lives. With an increase in the child maintenance disregard later this year and proposals for a full disregard recently announced, these together with existing reforms to the child maintenance system will lift up to 100,000 children out of poverty.”

“The Agency’s performance continues to improve as we move towards the new Commission and our aim will be to continue this progress so we can help more children and families.”

CSA Chief Executive and Commissioner of the new Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, Stephen Geraghty, added: “I am delighted that a record number of children across the UK are benefiting from over £1.05 billion of maintenance collected or arranged by the Agency. They show our historic achievements earlier this year are evidence of a sustained and consistent improvement that is increasingly delivering results. Our work continues to create stable foundations for the future of child maintenance as the Commission is established later this year.”

The Quarterly Summary of Statistics shows that:

* A total of 768,000 children are now benefiting from child maintenance, up from 561,100 in March 2005.

* In the year to June 2008, the Agency collected or arranged a record £1.05 billion in child maintenance of which £137.6m is arrears. This is up from £798m in March 2005.

* The percentage of parents paying child maintenance is up to 68%. The Agency is on track to meet its 69% target by March 2009, which will make it comparable to the best performing child support agencies around the world. This is 3% higher than 12 months ago and 5% higher on March 2005.

* The volume of uncleared current scheme applications is at the lowest level since August 2003 at 91,300. This compares to 225,300 as at March 2005 and is on track to improve on the March 2009 target of 90,000.

* 81% of new applications received in March 2008 were cleared within 12 weeks, up on the target standard of 68%. This is also already ahead of the March 2009 target standard of 80% of intake being cleared within 12 weeks.

* The Agency answered 99% of telephone calls available to answer, with an average waiting time of 18 seconds, up from 84% answered with a waiting time of 1 minute 40 seconds in March 2005.

Source: Department for Work And Pensions

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