Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether any paying parents were placed on deduction of earnings orders incorrectly due to backlogs in the Child Maintenance Service linking payments to cases in the latest period for which data is available.

Child Maintenance Service apply the Deductions from Earnings Order (DEO) process when a missed payment is identified. There is no data held identifying the number of occasions where an application of a DEO has been made in error due when a Paying Parent has in fact made a payment to the service but that payment has not been identified at the time of placing the DEO.

To encourage contact and dialogue from Paying Parents when a missed payment is identified the Child Maintenance Service attempts to make contact with Paying Parents prior to considering a DEO. These include sending an automated SMS text message and a warning letter highlighting the missed payment to the Paying Parent. The warning letter explains the consequences of non-payment including enforcement action.

If the Paying Parent does not make contact the Child Maintenance Service automatically search for a current employer link via the HM Revenue and Customs database. A call is then made to the employer to confirm the Paying Parent is still employed with them and payroll information is obtained. Once the DEO is issued Child Maintenance Service contact the employer once again to confirm safe receipt and to advise on how to implement the order. Throughout this period the Paying Parent has the opportunity to contact Child Maintenance Service to discuss the missed payment.