Child Support Agency research for families

January 7, 2011

The Child Support Agency (CSA) has had its fair share of criticism since its inception in 1993. Undoubtedly CSA mistakes have received extensive coverage in the Media, but what may not be so well appreciated is the good done through CSA help. A glance at figures published in September 2010 shows that £1,146.5 million in maintenance was collected last year, with more than 850,000 children benefiting.

With the New Year comes a newly funded research initiative to investigate how well single-parent families are coping since changes to the child support system were introduced in 2008. The reform meant that parents were free to make their own arrangements with former partners for maintenance support and were not forced to seek child maintenance as a condition of receiving benefits.

The new research is scheduled to take 18 months and is a collaboration between Gingerbread, the charity for single-parent families, the National Centre for Social Research and Bryson Purdon Social Research, specialists in top quality social research. The funding for this extensive research has been provided by the Nuffield Foundation and it will enable in-depth interviews with parents on benefit to answer questions about how many parents are making their own maintenance arrangements and the number of children receiving support from an absent parent. Are parents on benefit still using the Child Support Agency, or have many opted out of seeking maintenance completely? The aim, according to Fiona Weir, CEO of Gingerbread, is to gather information to help make informed decisions about future changes to the child support system and to assess how well families are coping with the current situation.

Comments

  • graeme says:

    Maybe if they were to read the complaints on this website alone they would have a great idea for their research material.
    The statement “with more than 850,000 children benefiting” is wrong. It should also read “with more than 850,000 children going without or being forced into poverty because of the actions of the agency by the way they target nrps who have moved on with their lives, created new families and the children suffer through that way.
    They should also means test PWCs. Ensure that the CM paid to them is exactly for that… CHILD MAINTENANCE. nOT FOR NEW SHOES, MAKE UP NIGHTS OUT ETC.
    They should also change the law that if a PWC denies access to the NRP or in any way hinders access then the NRP should not pay CM. That way estranged families have a better chance of survival.
    The main change should be… one law, one assessment… everybody in the system on that assessment.
    If a PWC is on benefits.. then the actual benefits should be stopped if she is recieving CM. The amount recieved should offset benefits. This obviously depends on the NRPS income etc.
    The Agency should be a highly trained body. With professional and courteous staff. Not the morons that is already working there.
    Investigations. On no account should the word of either parent be taken at face value. The agency eed toinvestigate thoroughly either side of the story. Should anybody lie then action should be taken against them..
    This also goes for agency staff as well.
    The Law needs to be changed dramamtically. On no account should liability orders issued. Both sets of parents have a god given right to further their lives and that includes putting a roof over their heads for themselves and their new families.
    I could go on but these are some of my initial thoughts.

    Please feel free to add to them. Then maybe the original poster can pass the information on to the research body. That should make good reading material.
    Combine this with the information on this website then they will have an excellent idea on how this shambolic bunch of thieves have destroyed peoples lives. Both the NRP and the PWC.

    Have a nice day. (Unless of course you work for this agency… then i hope that the fleas of a million camels infect your anus and cause you untold grief, misery and suffering, like you cost us.)

    Graeme

  • graeme says:

    And as an addition to the above post.. Children are for life, they should not be used as a pay per view by the PWC..The PWC should not demand extra money whilst in receipt of CM…

    Also NRPS have the right to a life after divorce seperation. Should the NRP be successful in his/her life.. then the PWC has no right to demand more money etc…

    Again my thoughts only….

    Graeme

  • chickpea says:

    I totally disagree with comments like’ child maintenance should’nt be used for hair, make up etc’ No it should’nt but PWC(male and Female) are also spending money on the children. They don’t sit there and wait for the CM to come through every month and provide food, clothing etc then nothing until the next payment. Everyday money is being spent on the children food, gas ,electric, school dinners, bus to school, tolietries, spending money clothing,hair cuts, the list can sometimes be endless. I can’t understand some PWC’s actions just like i can’t understand some NRP’s who think £10.00 a week goes anywhere helping to provide for their child/children. Yes some PWC’s are on benefits ‘and don’t get off their backsides but then again neither do some NRP’s.

  • Sarah Williamson says:

    £1,146.5 million in maintenance was collected last year – yeah but how much of that was actually passed onto the non-resident parent without them having to chase it constantly?

  • Tracy Button Sallis says:

    Well done csa. You're helping the mothers, and tearing other families apart leaving 2nd families deep in debt and sometimes homeless. You're killing good fathers. Yeah, pat on the back

  • Helen Humphreys says:

    they dont always just help mothers.a lot of us r in debt n homeless 2.so not just 2nd families.

  • Steve Pelikan says:

    propaganda! blowing smoke up there arses and trying to big up the csa and the wonderful work they are doing! not!! when you cannot afford to live because of the deductions they make false assesments arrogant staff threats of action for arrears that they cannot justify! the sooner they are closed down the better!!

  • Lee Hughes says:

    Also Sarah, how much of that money would have been spent on the children regardless? Probably a majority of it…such deceptive information they put out!

  • Jem Pogue says:

    More government bullshit, dig deeper into how they have achieved these figures and you will see the death and destruction they leave in there quest to remain open and continue to recieve there massive bonuses for abusing children !

  • Bob French says:

    http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=1181169531This woman Tammy Dean has all the benefits coming out of her ears has a job as a care worker gets a war pension her partner gets a military pension and has his own business and she is the managing director of his business.She made a false rape allegation against her ex husband ruined his army career so he had to leave after 16 years no pension for him. she told many lies and stopped him seeing his daughter. in the first place she had asked to have children he had said no a couple of months later she told him that she was pregnant and has the child anyway.With all of the money she is getting already she still wants more and that is purely to ruin the ex husbands life yet again. He is now faced with poverty unable to feed himself does not have the money to get to work so he is going to have to leave the job which he loves and is well respected in to go on to benefits. This is what the CSA do to people, they go after men who are already paying but because they cant catch others so they go for the easy target and rape them financially. that is how they have that figure not by collecting from people who are not paying. They shat on the ones who are and who are willing to pay. Incidentally I am the ex husband who had the fictitious rape claim against me and I am about to lose everything again because of this greedy vindictive bitch Tammy Dean.I wonder what my daughter Poppy will think of her mother when she finds out the truth. She has now pushed me over the edge and as for the CSA and not listening to me telling them I cant afford to pay the money they were asking and ignoring the amount which I could pay well now the war is on. lets see how many of those give up working for the CSA in 2011

  • Craig Bulman says:

    Oh yes and Tammy Dean got married again, and ran off with her husbands brother she is also trying to take the second husbands house from him – she is a disgusting piece of shit

  • Paula Halsey says:

    more lies and bullshit from the csa. Funny they are not able to produce the figures paid out in compensation for all the maladministration claims.

  • Craig Bulman says:

    Tell me more about these mal administration claims

  • Susan Ward says:

    They only collected this amount by bullying and threatening the NRP. I is interesting to read they have helped the single parent (AGAIN). What about helping the NRP and their second family.My husband did have an agreement with his ex, which at the time was great. Well that was until i came along, then the greedy lying ex girlfriend got the csa involved so she could ruin our lives (her words). She thought she would split us up, BUT she didn't know me ha ha.I will fight her and the csa until we get a fair deal.

  • Craig Bulman says:

    It is time all of us Victims of this bullying and harassment from the CSA got together and made anyone who works for the CSA terrified to put a foot wrong and ensure that they do their job correctly so they are fair.

  • Sarah Ambrose says:

    I totally agree that we need to get together and insist the CSA do their job legally, fairly and within a decent time scale. The more there are of us fighting for this, the stronger we will become. I have written to all television channels and am going to start on newspapers this week. Fundamentally the system DOES NOT WORK, whether you are a PWC or a NRP. they money they claim to have collected is from easy targets, those with full time employment who do not have the where with all to fight, or make sure any assessments are correct. If any case needs extra work, or is 'complicated' they ignore it. We need to make the CSA accountable! And then on from that the Government!

  • Craig Bulman says:

    Yep not just the CSA each case worker to is held accountable we all need to pull together as one – there is a press black out on bad publicity against the CSA so we need to bombard the internet with websites and blogs of their corruption and wrong doing and expose the disgusting greedy lying parents with care who are using the CSA to take revenge and ruin the lives of the NRP – Note: Not all Parents with care are doing this so I am not tarring all PWC's as using the CSA to be vindictive. One PWC my ex wife Tammy Dean see the post above by Bob French she is not going to be plastered all over the internet, she has tried to ruin my life twice – now it is her turn to lose everything.

  • Craig Bulman says:

    Note how they say single parents on benefits my first ex wife chose to stay on benefits even though she could earn double of what I did a lot of the time they choose to stay on benefits because everything gets paid for. why do they not come and interview the NRP who is getting shafted and financially raped because the ex is all bitter and twisted and wants to ruin their life nothing to do with about paying for the child. All greed and venom – isn't it Tammy Dean of Wallsend Tyne and Wear NE28 and Carol Anne Bulman of Farnborough?

  • Sarah Ambrose says:

    Im not so sure that our campaign will hold too much weight if we make it personally vindictive to PWC or NRP. I think we need to concentrate on the CSA and their mal adminsitration and failings. I agree that there certainly does seem to be a press black out. I used to have a really good web site going but because of ill health I coudlnt run it any more or afford to do so. It used to produce a lot of press interest esepcially with the BBC. I had about 500 pepole listing on there and growing daily. it was called childsupportagencyproblems.co.uk I wish i could do another one. Can anyone else start one up? i would be happy to help a little with the finances and with some of the admin work, just cant do it all myself as Im not well enough.

  • Sarah Williamson says:

    Just realised I put NRP in the first post, meant PWC. Oops! Sarah A is right, they screw both sides over equally it seems, we need to stay focussed!

  • Lisa Hunter says:

    THANK YOU CRAIG BULMAN another person that has also noticed the press black out with regards to the CSA…trying to get my MP to address it is frigging hardwork too, but i have to say he is fabulous at planting trees and cutting ribbon!

  • Sarah Ambrose says:

    haha nic one Lisa, so who is this meeting with and when? Can we not all come??

  • Lisa Hunter says:

    I have to say whether i want this meeting, but it's not the person i want to speak to…i want a meeting with Stephen Geraghty not some little underling. I am sick of being passed to everyone else other than the people/decision makers who are in charge x

  • Allan Morrell says:

    The CSA like feedback, I just gave it to them… 2 walkie talkies together, the one recieving on high volume, went through the dial up process till I got a staff member, and transmited the feedback high pitched whistle down the fone, ear ache and head ache are the first symptoms of reciept of this kind of feedback…. anyone can do it, I suggest our nxt fone calls are done in this way!!! anyone who is intent on returning the hurt they have suffered from these greedy arrogant and ignorant imbociles can do this…..Oh for the memories of childhood with electronic gadgets like microphones and speakers creating high pitched feedback…. Amazing how such simple devices can cause ear-ache and headaches!!!!!!

  • Allan Morrell says:

    I will continue my onslaughts with this method of attack on CSA staff on a daily basis…… I know….psychological warfare is summat these idiots are not trained to deal with, so let em hav it!!!!!

  • Craig says:

    Well Chickpea I appreciate that children do cost money to
    bring up but not the amount the CSA take from the NRP. Surely the
    NRP is entitled to a life after the divorce too. And why should the
    NRP have to pay anything to a PWC who refuses to let the NRP have
    access to his children????? Now I am not saying all PWC’s are like
    this but my ex wives are and they have used the children as a cash
    cow. I am about to lose my job as I will be unable to cope as I
    will have nothing left but yet one of my wives Tammy Dean of
    Wallsend Newcastle Upon Tyne NE28 has all the benefits coming out
    of her fat hairy arse has a job as a care worker gets a war pension
    has a partner who gets an army pension for 22 years of service and
    has his own business – and she is managing director of his business
    – do I smell a tax fiddle there? I told her I did not want children
    yet she goes a head and has one anyway, makes a false rape
    allegation against me and accuses me of being violent. She ruined
    my army career – I had done 16 years I only had 6 years before I
    would have received my pension. I have only just settled into
    civvie street after leaving the army in 2002 and now my world is
    about to fall apart yet again. As for my first wife Carol Anne
    Bulman of Farnborough has sat on benefits for years even though she
    is perfectly capable of earning good money, why should she work
    when she lives off the teat of the state and gets money from the
    CSA. Some PWC’s use the CSA to be vindictive so they should not get
    money and they need to be means tested.

  • Allan Morrell says:

    A childs Kareoke machine will have the same effect on high volume and by placing the micropone next to the Speaker will produce the high pitch squeal which will produce adequate feedback!!!!So for those who are prepared to antagonise the CSA staff in this manner… I hope you enjoy!!!! I do….!!!!!It may be childish behaviour, but it gets the CSA stressed!!! especially on a repetative scale!!!

  • Tracy Button Sallis says:

    I agree it's not just the 2nd families who are suffering. The CSA are arrogant, and useless. It's time they were shut down for good.

  • Craig Bulman says:

    Allan I love you man – I have walki talkies and I shall be indulging let us cause these pieces of shit so much stress that they jack in their job and sue their employer for work related stress it will cost them millions if we all give these fucks a hard time LOL

  • chickpea says:

    Craig!
    Means testing a PWC is’nt is’nt a viable solution..One week children cost less than another week. What happens when a child needs a lets say new bed? Beds are’nt cheap, we have 3 children who are always needing new things, 3 winter coats £120, 3 pairs of winter boots £70 not to mention scarfs, hats replacing gloves on a regular basis the list is endless. I think alot of NRP’s forget how expensive it was when they were still with their partners. Access and CM cannot be linked, why should the kids go without just because the parents are acting like a couple of imbeciles? Yes i wholeheartedly agree NRP’s are entiltled to get on with their life, but in the mojarity of cases the PWC’s are forking out more every month to just keep a roof over their heads and provide 24/7 for the kids. Lets say you are paying CM of £100 per month, The pwc is paying out more in rent utilities food clothing etc.

  • Sylvia Dunai says:

    Yeah, they collected a lot of money from NRPs, that's something we all know. The question is, how much of this money was stolen by CSA and how much interest they gained while sitting on top of this big pile of money for weeks before passing it onto the PWC (if they ever passed it on at all).

  • Fred says:

    Do you not see a pattern here…………Have a
    relationship,have baby,split up,claim csa,sit on
    arse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At this rate as well as having enough kids for
    a football or rugby team. The money she’l be raking in it could
    bolster up the UK economy. And i know she’s doing the csa thing out
    of spite because she told me so,because when we did split up and i
    was in another relationship,that as long as i was going out with
    this slut girl (in her words) she would make my life a misery and i
    would never see my child again. Well this “slut girl” as she puts
    it is worth 50 of her and is now my wife. She has 2 kids i call my
    own from a previous marriage. I did say to my ex that at the end of
    the day when my daughter is old enough to think for herself and not
    get brainwashed by her mother,she will come looking and then she
    will find out the truth.

  • chickpea says:

    Every PWC has a right to go to the CSA, but remember it is them that set the rate of CM not the PWC!

  • Fred says:

    She may have a right,but what about the NRP, don’t they have any rights to a new start and a half decent right to live. What damn right does she have to ruin my life out of spite. It’s parasites like my ex that pee me off, if it was still law that they burnt WITCHES (and what a shame it isn’t) ,she would be first on the pile.

  • chickpea says:

    Yes NRP’s do have a right to live and they should be allowed to have a decent life. But PWC’s wil always pay out more for the children, even if they earn more than the NRP. The PWC also has a right to a decent life. I know that if my children were away for lets say even a week i would’nt spend a quarter of what i do on food, electric, gas. I would’nt have several lights blaring at any one time. Several tv’s left on. Heating in all the rooms. Holiday time the PWC’s pay out more to keep the kids entertained, maybe a summer holiday abroad or even at home, clothing when grown out of or even just because of the season change. Yes there are alot of excellant NRP’s but the fact remains the PWC’s will always pay out more for the childs up keep.

  • Karl Garrett says:

    It’s quite simple, women are toxic, money grabing witches, and basically, DONT HAVE CHILDREN. I wish I got told this when I first met my ex, then I definately wouldn’t have had any!. The CSA and the EX have condemend me to a life of poverty, so whats the point in carrying on ? – it’s always one sided…..

  • John says:

    Gingerbread and others. Looks like the womens union have taken over again. Not one mention of how a persecuted father would like to contribute to their initiative. A womans’ only crusade yet again!

    There is no impartiality at all, and not one fathers version of events is being asked for!

    How about child maintenance matters being represented from the male and female prospective alike, instead of this ‘female orientated closed shop of compliancy’,

  • Fred says:

    Just a question chickpea to your reply on the 9th, you bang on about NRP’s and all that. I notice you mentioned there were several tv’s left on in your household at any one time. Either your doing very well for yourself or if you feel that strongly about the bills that you have to pay then wouldn’t it be common sense to get rid of 2 of the tv’s and save on some electric and put it towards a new pair of shoes or coat? or do they have a ps3,xbox or Wii attached to them. Also you could turn the heating down a notch or two,it costs nothing to put a jumper on.

  • chickpea says:

    I dont ‘bang on about NRP’s’ I happen to think they get a tough ride, i m just realistic when it comes to how much children cost! I also have seen this from both sides due to dealing with my brothers case for him after he decided he could’nt go on with things. Also helping my sister in Law on my husbands side when the fight got too much for her!

  • Craig Bulman says:

    Chic Pea
    Yes children do cost money but not the amount which gets taken from the NRP.
    A new bed strewth the amount of money the CSA are taking from me they could get a new bed every week. Incidentally one of my daughters is 18 she is an adult she has a job – when I was 17 I was serving my Queen and country by the time I had turned 18 I was on an operational tour. it is total and utter shite we have to pay until they are 19 if they go on to secondary education all that is doing is teaching them to get pregnant to have kids so they can jump on the benefits gravy train.
    When the PWC is on benefits they have everything paid for where as the NRP has to pay rent, council tax etc all of that is paid for the PWC on benefits.
    Meanwhile back at the ranch I am going to have to leave my job as the CSA are taking 40% of my wages and I am unable to keep up with my other outgoings
    The CSA are terrorist who commit fraud and are in breach of the NRP’s human rights. Look at what is going on in North Africa because that is coming to the UK
    If the PWC and the NRP were still together that amount of money would not be spent on the child every week – it all goes towards the CSA bonus’s they were paid 25 million in bonus’s last year I wonder where that money came from?????

  • Craig Bulman says:

    Chickpea is possibly Gary Chick a case worker from Plymouth CSA

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