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Written question asked by Pauline Latham (Conservative) on Friday, 17 May 2013, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 3 June 2013. It was answered by Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 3 June 2013 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Children: Maintenance

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will introduce legislative proposals to make allowances for human error in the administration of child maintenance payments.

[156727]

Answer

There are already a wide range of ways for preventing, detecting, and providing redress in the event of errors in the administration of the statutory child maintenance system, including the Child Support Agency's internal accuracy checks and a process for dealing with complaints. Clients are also able to challenge the Child Support's Agency's decision making through the independent appeals system, and, in the event of more complex issues of maladministration, through the Independent Case Examiner, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, and—ultimately—the courts. Where errors do take place and a client has lost out financially, redress is provided as set out in the Financial Redress for Maladministration Guide, a copy of which is available at:

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/financial-redress-for-maladministration.pdf

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
156727; 563 c1025W
Session
2013-14
Subjects
Children Maintenance
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk