Child Maintenance Changes

Update contributed by child maintenance Options:

www.wikivorce.com/divorce/Wikizine-Money...pdated-Nov-2012.html

"There are changes to the statutory child maintenance schemes coming into effect later this year. Where an application is accepted by the Child Maintenance Service, the calculation is based on the gross income of the paying parent. It should be noted that access to the 2012 Statutory Maintenance Service is initially for applications where there are 4 or more qualifying children within the same parental relationship. The qualifying child age to which statutory maintenance is liable will increase from 19 to the 20th birthday, depending on the educational status of the qualifying child. This remains the same, it is just the age that has changed."

So to clarify;

Those who already have private arrangements for which they are paying should continue to pay the same amount (unless there is a change in circumstance)?

Even though the age has increased to 20, if the agreement for child support ends after completion of A levels, than that Sept is when one stops paying?

somuch2know2 wrote:

So to clarify;

Those who already have private arrangements for which they are paying should continue to pay the same amount (unless there is a change in circumstance)?

Even though the age has increased to 20, if the agreement for child support ends after completion of A levels, than that Sept is when one stops paying?

Yes, as you are referring to a private agreement, I would say that it will remain unaffected (according to the update statement).

So far all the released information indicates only applications after the new scheme comes into effect will use the new calculation.

It is also my understanding the current % contribution is reduced when the Gross amount is used, I think: 19% (of gross) for 3 or more children, down to 12% for 1.

If people have private arrangements I guess they can change over when ever they agree. Initially only new applications will be assessed using the gross income scheme and transferring all existing CSA cases is scheduled to take several years.

Under CSA rules at the moment a child qualifies for CM if they are attending "non advanced" education e.g. A Level or less, BTEC, certain apprenticeships, skill seekers ? until they reach the age 19. Under the new rule the age will rise to 20 years of age for children continuing a course. This brings the CSA in line with Child Benefit.