The Child Support (Management of Payments and Arrears) Regulations 2009

PART 1 E+W+S General

Citation and commencement E+W+S

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Child Support (Management of Payments and Arrears) Regulations 2009 and come into force on 25th January 2010.

Interpretation E+W+S

2.—F1 (1) In these Regulations—

“the 1991 Act” means the Child Support Act 1991;

“a 1993 scheme case” means a case in respect of which the provisions of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 M1 have not been brought into force in accordance with article 3 of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 (Commencement No. 12) Order 2003 M2 ;

[F1 “child in Scotland” means a child who has made an application for a maintenance calculation under section 7 of the 1991 Act;]

“the Decisions and Appeals Regulations” means the Social Security and Child Support (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations 1999 M3 ;

“non-resident parent” includes a person treated as a non-resident parent by virtue of regulations made under section 42 of the 1991 Act;

“relevant person” means—

(a)

a person with care;

(b)

a non-resident parent;

(c)

where the application for a maintenance calculation is made by a child under section 7 of the 1991 Act, that child,

in respect of whom a maintenance calculation is or has been in force.

(2) In the application of these Regulations to a 1993 scheme case, any reference to expressions in the 1991 Act (including “non-resident parent” and “maintenance calculation”) or to regulations made under that Act are to be read with the necessary modifications.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in reg. 2(1) inserted (8.10.2012, 10.12.2012 otherwise by virtue of the provisions of the 2008 Act being brought wholly into force on that date by S.I. 2012/3042, art. 4(a)) by The Child Support Management of Payments and Arrears (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/3002), regs. 1, 2(2)

Marginal Citations

M1 2000 c. 19.

M2 S.I. 2003/192 (C. 11).

M3 S.I. 1999/991.

Arrears notices E+W+S

3.—(1) This regulation applies to a case where—

[F2 (a) include the amount of all outstanding arrears of child support maintenance due and not paid;]

(b) the non-resident parent has failed to make one or more payments of child support maintenance due.

(2) Where the [F3 Secretary of State] is considering taking action with regard to a case falling within paragraph (1) [F3 the Secretary of State] must serve a notice on the non-resident parent.

(3) The notice must—

(a) itemize the payments of child support maintenance due and not paid;

(b) set out in general terms the provisions as to arrears contained in this regulation and regulation 8 of the AIMA Regulations M4 ; and

(c) request the non-resident parent make payment of all outstanding arrears.

(4) Where a notice has been served under paragraph (2), no duty to serve a further notice under that paragraph arises in relation to further arrears unless those further arrears have arisen after an intervening continuous period of not less than 12 weeks during the course of which all payments of child support maintenance due from the non-resident parent have been paid on time in accordance with regulations made under section 29 of the 1991 Act.

Textual Amendments

F2 Reg. 3(3)(a) substituted (30.4.2012) by The Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/712), regs. 1(1), 3

F3 Words in reg. 3(2) substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 121(2)(b)

Marginal Citations

M4 Regulation 8 was substituted by S.I. 1995/3261 and amended by S.I. 1996/1345 and 2001/162. References to the Secretary of State in that regulation are treated as references to the Commission by virtue of paragraph 55(3) of Schedule 3 to the 2008 Act, as the function of the Secretary of State was transferred to the Commission by section 13 of that Act.

Attribution of payments E+W+S

4.  Where a maintenance calculation is or has been in force and there are arrears of child support maintenance, the [F4 Secretary of State] may attribute any payment of child support maintenance made by a non-resident parent to child support maintenance due as [F4 the Secretary of State] thinks fit.

Textual Amendments

F4 Words in reg. 4 substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 121(3)

PART 2 E+W+S Set Off

Set off of liabilities to pay child support maintenance E+W+S

5.—(1) The circumstances prescribed for the purposes of section 41C(1)(a) of the 1991 Act, in which the [F5 Secretary of State] may set off liabilities to pay child support maintenance, are set out in paragraph (2).

(2) The [F5 Secretary of State] may set off the liability to pay child support maintenance of one person (“A”) against the liability to pay child support maintenance of another person (“B”) where—

(a) A is liable to pay child support maintenance under a maintenance calculation, whether that calculation is current or no longer in force, in relation to which B is the person with care; and

(b) B is liable to pay child support maintenance under a maintenance calculation, whether that calculation is current or no longer in force, in relation to which A is the person with care.

(3) There shall be no set off in relation to any amount which if paid could be retained under section 41 of the 1991 Act.

Textual Amendments

F5 Words in reg. 5(1)(2) substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 121(4)

Set off of payments against child support maintenance liability E+W+S

6.—(1) The circumstances prescribed for the purposes of section 41C(1)(b) of the 1991 Act, in which the [F6 Secretary of State] may set off a payment against a person's liability to pay child support maintenance, are set out in paragraph (2).

(2) The [F6 Secretary of State] may set off a payment against a non-resident parent's liability to pay child support maintenance where—

(a) the payment falls within paragraph (3); and

(b) the person with care agreed to the making of the payment.

(3) A payment is of a prescribed description for the purposes of section 41C(1)(b) of the 1991 Act if it was made by the non-resident parent in respect of—

(a) a mortgage or loan taken out on the security of the property which is the qualifying child's home where that mortgage or loan was taken out to facilitate the purchase of, or to pay for essential repairs or improvements to, that property;

(b) rent on the property which is the qualifying child's home;

(c) mains-supplied gas, water or electricity charges at the qualifying child's home;

(d) council tax payable by the person with care in relation to the qualifying child's home;

(e) essential repairs to the heating system in the qualifying child's home; or

(f) repairs which are essential to maintain the fabric of the qualifying child's home.

Textual Amendments

F6 Words in reg. 6(1)(2) substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 121(5)

Application of set off E+W+S

7.—(1) In setting off a person's liability for child support maintenance under this Part, the [F7 Secretary of State] may apply the amount to be set off to reduce any arrears of child support maintenance due under any current maintenance calculation, or any previous maintenance calculation made in respect of the same relevant persons.

(2) Where there are no arrears of child support maintenance due, or an amount remains to be set off after the application of paragraph (1), the [F8 Secretary of State] may adjust the amount payable in relation to the current maintenance calculation by such amount as [F8 the Secretary of State] considers appropriate in all the circumstances of the case, having regard in particular to—

(a) the circumstances of the relevant persons; and

(b) the amount to be set off and the period over which it would be reasonable to adjust the amount payable to set off that amount.

(3) An adjustment of the amount payable in relation to the current maintenance calculation under paragraph (2) may reduce the amount payable to nil.

Textual Amendments

F7 Words in reg. 7(1) substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 121(6)(a)

F8 Words in reg. 7(2) substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 121(6)(b)

PART 3 E+W+S Overpayments and Voluntary Payments

Application of overpayments E+W+S

8.—(1) Where for any reason, including the retrospective effect of a maintenance calculation, there has been an overpayment of child support maintenance, the [F9 Secretary of State] may apply the amount overpaid to reduce any arrears of child support maintenance due under any previous maintenance calculation in respect of the same relevant persons.

(2) Where there is no previous maintenance calculation, or an amount of the overpayment remains after the application of paragraph (1), the [F10 Secretary of State] may adjust the amount payable in relation to the current maintenance calculation by such amount as [F10 the Secretary of State] considers appropriate in all the circumstances of the case, having regard in particular to—

(a) the circumstances of the relevant persons; and

(b) the amount of the overpayment and the period over which it would be reasonable to adjust the amount payable for the overpayment to be rectified.

(3) An adjustment of the amount payable in relation to the current maintenance calculation under paragraph (2) may reduce the amount payable to nil.

Textual Amendments

F9 Words in reg. 8(1) substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 121(7)(a)

F10 Words in reg. 8(2) substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 121(7)(b)

Application of voluntary payments E+W+S

9.—(1) Where there has been a voluntary payment M5 the [F11 Secretary of State] may apply the amount of the voluntary payment to reduce any arrears of child support maintenance due under any previous maintenance calculation in respect of the same relevant persons.

(2) Where there is no previous maintenance calculation, or an amount of the voluntary payment remains after the application of paragraph (1), the [F12 Secretary of State] may adjust the amount payable in relation to the current maintenance calculation by such amount as [F12 the Secretary of State] considers appropriate in all the circumstances of the case, having regard in particular to—

(a) the circumstances of the relevant persons; and

(b) the amount of the voluntary payment and the period over which it would be reasonable to adjust the amount payable for the voluntary payment to be taken into account.

(3) An adjustment of the amount payable in relation to the current maintenance calculation under paragraph (2) may reduce the amount payable to nil.

Textual Amendments

F11 Words in reg. 9(1) substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 121(8)(a)

F12 Words in reg. 9(2) substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 121(8)(b)

Marginal Citations

M5 “Voluntary payment” is defined in section 54 of the 1991 Act, by reference to section 28J of that Act. The definition was inserted by section 26 of, and Schedule 3 to, the 2000 Act.

PART 4 E+W+S Recovery from Estates

Application and interpretation E+W+S

10.—(1) This Part applies in relation to the estate of a person who dies on or after the day on which these Regulations come into force.

(2) In this Part, “child support maintenance” means child support maintenance for the collection of which the [F13 Secretary of State] is authorised to make arrangements.

Textual Amendments

F13 Words in reg. 10(2) substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 121(9)

Recovery of arrears from a deceased person's estate E+W+S

11.  Arrears of child support maintenance [F14 and collection fees (payable under regulation 7 (the collection fee) of the Child Support Fees Regulations 2014)] for which a deceased person was liable immediately before death are a debt payable by the deceased's executor or administrator out of the deceased's estate to the [F15 Secretary of State].

Textual Amendments

F14 Words in reg. 11 inserted (6.6.2014) by The Child Support (Consequential and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/1386), reg. 6(5) (as amended (24.6.2014) by S.I. 2014/1621, reg. 3)

F15 Words in reg. 11 substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 121(10)

Appeals and other proceedings E+W+S

12.—(1) The deceased's executor or administrator has the same rights, subject to the same procedures and time limits, as the deceased person had immediately before death to institute, continue or withdraw any proceedings under the 1991 Act, whether by appeal or otherwise.

(2) F16 ...

Textual Amendments

F16 Reg. 12(2) omitted (28.10.2013) by virtue of The Social Security, Child Support, Vaccine Damage and Other Payments (Decisions and Appeals) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (S.I. 2013/2380), regs. 1(2), 7(4) (with reg. 8(1))

Disclosure of information E+W+S

13.—(1) The [F17 Secretary of State] may disclose information held for the purposes of the 1991 Act to the deceased's executor or administrator where, in the opinion of the [F17 Secretary of State], such information is essential to enable the executor or administrator to administer the deceased's estate, including, where necessary, to institute, continue or withdraw proceedings under the 1991 Act.

(2) Any application for information under this regulation shall be made to the [F17 Secretary of State] in writing setting out the reasons for the application.

(3) Except where a person gives written permission to the [F17 Secretary of State] that the information mentioned in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) in relation to that person may be disclosed to other persons, any information disclosed under paragraph (1) must not contain—

(a) the address of any person, except that of the recipient of the information in question and the office of the officer concerned who is exercising functions of the [F17 Secretary of State] under the 1991 Act, or any other information the use of which could reasonably be expected to lead to any such person being located;

(b) any other information the use of which could reasonably be expected to lead to any person, other than a party to the maintenance calculation, being identified.

Textual Amendments

F17 Words in reg. 13 substituted (1.8.2012) by The Public Bodies (Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission: Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2007), art. 1(2), Sch. para. 121(12)

[F18 PART   4A E+W+S Part Payment of Arrears in Full and Final Satisfaction

Textual Amendments

F18 Part 4A - 4B inserted (8.10.2012 for specified purposes by virtue of 2008 c. 6, ss. 32, 33 being brought into force for specified purposes on that date by S.I. 2012/2523, art. 2(2)(d)) by The Child Support Management of Payments and Arrears (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I. 2012/3002), regs. 1, 2(3)

Interpretation of this Part E+W+S

13A.   In this Part—

“appropriate person” means the person from whom the appropriate consent is required under section 41D(5) or (6) of the 1991 Act.

Amounts owed to different persons to be treated separately E+W+S

13B.   Where the arrears of child support maintenance for which a person is liable comprise amounts that have accrued in respect of—

(a) separate applications for a maintenance calculation; or

(b) one application but would, if recovered, be payable to different persons,

those amounts are to be treated as separate amounts of arrears for the purpose of exercising the power under section 41D(1) of the 1991 Act.

Appropriate consent E+W+S

13C.— (1) The Secretary of State may not exercise the power under section 41D(1) of the 1991 Act without the appropriate consent (as provided for in subsections (5) to (7) of section 41D), unless one of the following conditions applies—

(a) that the Secretary of State would be entitled to retain the whole of the arrears under section 41(2) of the 1991 Act if it recovered them; or

(b) that the Secretary of State would be entitled to retain part of the arrears under section 41(2) of that Act if it recovered them, and the part of the arrears that the Secretary of State would not be entitled to retain is equal to or less than the payment accepted under section 41D(1) of that Act.

(2) Where the consent of any appropriate person is required, the Secretary of State must make available such information and guidance as the Secretary of State thinks appropriate for the purpose of helping that person decide whether to give that consent.

Agreement E+W+S

13D.— (1) Where the Secretary of State proposes to exercise the power under section 41D(1) of the 1991 Act, the Secretary of State must prepare a written agreement.

(2) The agreement must—

(a) name the non-resident parent, and where the consent of any appropriate person is required, the name of that person;

(b) specify the amount of arrears to which the agreement relates and the period of liability to which those arrears relate;

(c) state the amount that is agreed will be paid in satisfaction of those arrears;

(d) state the method of payment and to whom payment will be made; and

(e) state the day by which payment is to be made.

(3) The Secretary of State must send the non-resident parent and, where applicable, the appropriate person, a copy of the agreement.

(4) The agreement does not take effect until—

(a) the non-resident parent has agreed in writing to its terms; and

(b) where applicable, the appropriate person has given to the Secretary of State their consent in writing.

Where payment is received E+W+S

13E.— (1) Unless the non-resident parent fails to comply with the terms of the agreement, the Secretary of State must not take action to recover any of the arrears to which the agreement relates.

(2) Where the non-resident parent has made full payment in accordance with the agreement all remaining liability in respect of the arrears of child support maintenance to which the agreement relates is extinguished.

(3) Where the non-resident parent fails to make any payment or only makes part payment or otherwise fails to adhere to the terms of the agreement, the non-resident parent remains liable to pay the full amount of any outstanding arrears to which the agreement relates and the Secretary of State may arrange to recover any of those outstanding arrears in accordance with the 1991 Act.

(4) Nothing in these Regulations prevents the Secretary of State from entering into a new agreement with the non-resident parent in respect of any of the arrears to which the previous agreement relates provided that the new agreement complies with the requirements set out in regulation 13D.

(5) Where the Secretary of State enters into a new agreement with the non-resident parent in respect of any of the arrears to which a previous agreement related, the previous agreement ceases to have effect on the coming into effect of that new agreement.]

[F18 PART 4B E+W+S Write Off of Arrears

Amounts owed to different persons to be treated separately E+W+S

13F.   Where the arrears of child support maintenance for which a person is liable comprise amounts that have accrued in respect of—

(a) separate applications for a maintenance calculation; or

(b) one application, but would, if recovered, be payable to different persons,

those amounts are to be treated as separate amounts of arrears for the purpose of exercising the power under section 41E(1) of the 1991 Act.

Circumstances in which the Secretary of State may exercise the power in section 41E of the 1991 Act E+W+S

13G.   The circumstances of the case specified for the purposes of section 41E(1)(a) of the 1991 Act are that—

(a) the person with care has requested under section 4(5) of that Act that the Secretary of State ceases to act in respect of the arrears;

(b) a child in Scotland has requested under section 7(6) of that Act that the Secretary of State ceases to act in respect of the arrears;

(c) the person with care, or (in Scotland) the child, has died;

(d) the non-resident parent died before 25 January 2010 or there is no further action that can be taken with regard to recovery of the arrears from the non-resident parent’s estate under Part 4;

(e) the arrears relate to liability for child support maintenance for any period in respect of which an interim maintenance assessment was in force between 5 April 1993 and 18 April 1995; or

(f) the non-resident parent has been informed by the Secretary of State that no further action would ever be taken to recover those arrears.

Secretary of State required to give notice E+W+S

13H.— (1) Where the Secretary of State is considering exercising the powers under section 41E(1) of the 1991 Act, the Secretary of State must send written notice to the person with care or, where relevant, a child in Scotland and the non-resident parent.

(2) The requirement in paragraph (1) does not apply where the person in question cannot be traced or has died.

(3) The notice must—

(a) specify the person with care or, where relevant, a child in Scotland, in respect of whom liability in respect of arrears of child support maintenance has accrued;

(b) specify the amount of the arrears and the period of liability to which the arrears relate;

(c) state why it appears to the Secretary of State that it would be unfair or inappropriate to enforce liability in respect of the arrears;

(d) advise the person that they may make representations, within 30 days of receiving the notice, to the Secretary of State as to whether the liability in respect of the arrears should be extinguished; and

(e) explain the effect of any decision to extinguish liability in respect of any arrears of child support maintenance under section 41E(1) of the 1991 Act.

(4) If no representations are received by the Secretary of State within 30 days of the notice being received by the person with care or, where relevant, a child in Scotland and the non-resident parent, the Secretary of State may make the decision to extinguish the arrears.

(5) For the purposes of this regulation, where the Secretary of State sends any written notice by post to a person’s last known or notified address that document is treated as having been received by that person on the second day following the day on which it is posted.

Secretary of State to take account of the parties’ views E+W+S

13I.   Where the Secretary of State receives representations within the 30 day period referred to in regulation 13H(3)(d), the Secretary of State must take account of those representations in making a decision under section 41E(1) of the 1991 Act.

Notification of decision to write off E+W+S

13J.— (1) On making a decision under section 41E(1) of the 1991 Act, the Secretary of State must send written notification to the non-resident parent and the person with care or, where relevant, a child in Scotland, of that decision.

(2) The requirement in paragraph (1) does not apply where the person in question cannot be traced or has died.]

PART 5 E+W+S Revocations and Savings

Revocations E+W+S

14.  The Regulations specified in the Schedule are revoked to the extent specified.

Savings E+W+S

15.—(1) Where before these Regulations come into force, an adjustment has been made under regulation 10(1) of the AIMA Regulations in a 1993 scheme case, regulations 10(2) and (3) and 11 to 17 M6 of those Regulations continue to apply to that case for the purposes of—

(a) making and determining any appeal against the adjustment;

(b) making and determining any application for a revision of the adjustment;

(c) determining any application for a supersession made before these regulations come into force.

(2) Where before these Regulations come into force, an adjustment has been made under regulation 10(1) or (3A) M7 of the AIMA Regulations in a case other than a 1993 scheme case, regulation 30A M8 of the Decisions and Appeals Regulations continues to apply to that case for the purposes of making and determining any appeal against the adjustment.

Marginal Citations

M6 Regulation 10(1) was substituted by S.I. 1995/1045 and amended by S.I. 1999/1510. Regulation 10(2) and (3) was amended by S.I. 1999/1510. Regulation 11 was substituted by S.I. 1995/1045 and amended by S.I. 1999/1510. Regulations 12 to 17 were substituted by S.I. 1999/1510 and regulation 14 was amended by S.I. 2008/2683.

M7 Regulation 10(1) was substituted by S.I. 1995/1045 and amended by S.I. 1999/1510 and 2001/162, in relation to cases other than 1993 scheme cases. Regulations 10(3A) was inserted by S.I. 2001/162.

M8 Regulation 30A was inserted by S.I. 2000/3185 and amended by S.I. 2008/2683 and S.I. 2009/396.

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Helen Goodman

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State,

Department for Work and Pensions

30th November 2009