Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information the department holds on the proportion of CMS arrears of the parent which are not enforceable.

The intent of the CMS 2012 scheme is that all debt is collectable unless CMS are instructed by the receiving parent (or child in Scotland) to cease acting on their behalf or under other limited provisions such as where the paying parent dies and the debt cannot be recovered from the estate.

CMS focuses on recovering unpaid maintenance by evaluating the paying parents’ ability to pay, which can fluctuate over time. Since the debt is owed to the other parent rather than the Secretary of State, CMS neither stipulates a timeframe for debt collection nor deems it uncollectable.

CMS maintains that the most effective way to handle arrears is through continued enforcement efforts, ensuring children receive the financial support they require. As the level of reported arrears continues to increase, the CMS has considered the collectability of all unpaid maintenance. The CMS continues to target unpaid maintenance of all ages and continues to see a reduction in unpaid maintenance arising in previous years.