0DWP child maintenance CMS not ‘adequate’ update and ‘urgent action’ – key details | Wales Online Follow walesonline:
Need to know
The Department for Work and Pensions has issued a new update on ‘urgent action’ it is taking
DWP admits failings in child maintenance service – what you need to know
- The Department for Work and Pensions has admitted to failings in the Child Maintenance Service amid mounting criticism from parents and MPs.
- Mothers have told BBC Panorama they were left ‘at breaking point’ by mistakes and arrears, with one facing nearly £10,000 in unpaid maintenance. The DWP faced fresh criticism this week when Liberal Democrat MP Olly Glover questioned delayed responses to his enquiries about constituent cases.
- Parliamentary Under-Secretary Lilian Greenwood acknowledged the department’s shortcomings in a response this week. She said: “The Department recognises that response times to hon. Members’ enquiries on behalf of constituents have not been consistently adequate in recent months.”
- Outlining “urgent action” that is being taken, she said the DWP is deploying additional resources to complaints teams and introducing enhanced oversight to improve response times. Government guidance states complaints should be addressed within 15 working days, though complex cases may take longer.
- Campaign group Gingerbread has criticised the CMS as ‘failing in its duty’ with over £790 million in unpaid child maintenance arrears. CEO Abigail Wood said: “This is money that should have been paid to children to help protect them from hardship.”
- The charity argues a properly functioning service could reduce child poverty by 25% and calls for meaningful reform with proper resourcing.
- READ THE FULL STORY: DWP child maintenance CMS ‘urgent action’ update as it makes not ‘adequate’ admission
