CMEC - The Basics

Some of the key elements to this new legislation:

• Power has now transferred from Secretary of State to the Commission.
• Secretary of State has the power to increase the powers of the Commission as he sees fit.
• Fees for using CMEC may be payable.
• Compulsory element removed. PWCs on benefit no longer have to involve CSA if they prefer a private arrangement.
• Age of the qualifying child raised to 20 in line with ability to claim child benefit.
• Gross income now used for calculation of maintenance
• DEO to be used as standard payment method.
• DEOs can take money from bank accounts, including those in joint names.
• Lump Sum DEOs can be used to take money from bank account, including those in joint names.
• Order to prevent avoidance: can allow a prohibition of transfer of assets, and can override any recent transfer of assets.
• Removal of the need to apply to court to grant a third party debt/charging order.
• Powers to remove, or prevent NRP from obtaining a passport.
• Power to impose curfew orders.
• Under certain conditions, payment of arrears can be wiped out, or part payment agreed as full and final settlement.
• It will now be an offence to not notify the agency of a change in employer/employment status, or a change of address.
• The Commission has the powers to recover arrears from an estate of a deceased NRP - if no liability order exists before date of death, the LO will be sought anyway -"notwithstanding that the NRP is deceased".
• Tracing actions to locate NRPs now extended to credit reference agencies.
• Children outside of CSA claim may be considered under certain conditions.
• Clients have the right to make a private arrangement and not use the services of the Commission, but all parties have to agree to private arrangement for this to be granted.

Not all of these measures wil be introduced at the same time.  The process will take until 2011/2013.   Updated details will appear in the "Latest News" box on our website and will be emailed out to clients on a regular basis.