Coronavirus - separated families, maintenance arrangements and access to children.

Lindsey Canning Lindsey Canning 10 June 2020

Updated information on key issues surrounding the impact of COVID-19 on family circumstances is now available.

The House of Commons Library has published a briefing paper containing information in response to some key questions regarding the impact of COVID-19 on separated families, maintenance arrangements and access to children.

Lindsey Canning, head of Family Law at Wake Smith Solicitors, looks at the updates.

She said: “The impact of the pandemic on arrangements for separated families and children’s access has been numerous.

“The paper contains useful practical information about child maintenance arrangements during the pandemic, including what to do if a party's income has changed because of COVID-19.

“It confirms that the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is currently accepting verbal evidence of income changes over the phone until the end of the pandemic.

“The CMS has warned that enforcement action will be taken against those who abuse the change in the evidence threshold.”

The briefing paper states that: “Parents with care may experience delays receiving initial maintenance payments and there may be a longer wait to receive payments that are owed, as the CMS is not contacting paying parents about missing payments during the pandemic.”

The Department for Work and Pensions has said that the CMS hopes to provide further details on its approach to missed payments in July 2020.

Lindsey added: “If shared care arrangements have changed temporarily due to COVID-19, the CMS will not change the amount of child maintenance paid, given that the change in care arrangement is temporary.

“The paper also refers to the CMS paying parent information page, which includes FAQs for paying parents during the pandemic relating to change of circumstances, shared care, missed maintenance payments, financial support, managing cases online and sending supporting information.

“If you are struggling with your situation, then please give us a call. These have been challenging times for all of us, let alone if you are trying to juggle childcare arrangements with a partner, maintenance payments or being part of a separated family.

“Wake Smith remains open and is offering telephone and online consultations, ensuring we are easily available to those needing legal advice throughout this difficult time.”

To book your free 30 minute consultation call Deborah Marsh at Wake Smith Solicitors on 0114 266 6660.

For further information on the Government’s advice visit: https://childmaintenanceservice.direct.gov.uk

Tags

Archive

March 20247February 20242January 20248December 20236November 20232October 20235September 20232August 20234July 20232June 20235May 20238March 20234February 20235January 20233December 20225November 20224October 20224September 20223August 20221June 20221May 20227April 20223March 20223February 20223January 20224December 20214November 20213October 20215September 20216August 20212July 202111June 20218May 20216April 20212March 20218February 20218January 20219December 20208November 202013October 20209September 20208August 20203July 20208June 202016May 202013April 20209March 202016February 20209January 202011December 20199November 20199October 201911September 20195August 20194July 20196May 20198April 20196March 20193February 20195January 20194December 20186November 20185October 20182September 20185August 20184July 20189June 20184May 201810April 20185March 20184February 20184January 20183December 20175November 20178October 20177September 20179August 20175July 20176June 201710May 20176April 20178March 201711February 20176January 201712December 20169November 20167October 201610September 201610August 20166July 20167June 20163May 20162April 20166March 20162February 20164January 20165December 20153November 20155October 20156September 20156August 20157July 20157June 20157May 20156April 20159March 20156February 201510January 20156December 20145November 20144October 20142September 20143May 20144March 20146February 20144January 20142December 20132November 20133September 20134July 20132June 20132May 20133April 20131March 20133February 20133January 20136December 20121November 20123October 20122August 20122July 20128June 20123April 20123March 20121January 20124December 20112November 20111October 20112September 20113August 20113July 20117June 20119May 20117April 20115March 20119February 20118January 20111December 20101October 20102September 20102August 20103July 20106June 20101May 20102April 20106March 20102February 20103January 20102December 20095November 20092October 20092September 20092August 20091July 20095June 20095May 20093April 20093March 20093February 20091January 20092November 20082October 20082September 20081August 20083July 20081January 20082

Featured Articles

Contact us