258.In the current scheme, where a non-resident parent has no assessable income because he is in receipt of an income-related benefit, a contribution to maintenance can be deducted in certain circumstances. However, there are many exempt categories and, in practice, only around 23,000 non-resident parents make a contribution to maintenance.
259.In the reformed scheme most non-resident parents in receipt of certain prescribed benefits, including income-related benefits and war pensions, will be liable to pay a minimum amount of maintenance (£5) a week. The vast majority of exemptions will be removed.
260.In addition, the parent with care may make an application for a variation against a non-resident parent in receipt of certain prescribed benefits where he has, for example, earnings, an occupational pension or assets. Provision is therefore made to deduct from benefit the amount of child maintenance determined in these cases. Where arrears of maintenance have accrued, an amount may also be deducted from benefit.
261.This section substitutes section 43 of the 1991 Act (contribution to maintenance by deduction from benefit) with a new section on the recovery of maintenance by deduction from benefits. It increases the range of benefits from which deductions can be made in respect of current maintenance and arrears, and includes deductions from war pensions.
262.New section 43(1) states that the section applies where the non-resident parent is liable to pay a flat rate of child support maintenance because he (or his partner) is receiving one of a range of prescribed benefits or a war pension. This subsection also allows regulations to prescribe additional conditions which may have to be satisfied before a deduction can be made.
263.New section 43(2) is an enabling provision which allows maintenance or arrears to be deducted from benefits, by means of regulations under subsection (1)(p) of section 5 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992*).
264.New section 43(3) provides that, for the purposes of making deductions from benefit, a war pension is to be included as a benefit.