And just 40% of absent parents made 90% or more of what they were supposed to pay?
www.theguardian.com/money/2022/aug/07/more-than-a-third-of-parents-fail-to-contribute-towards-child-maintenance-payments
Data from the Collect and Pay service - apparently only 164,500 NRPs use the scheme which does not seem a high percentage of the total NRPs who should be making a contribution.
This is only going to get worse with the cost of living crisis - as people's belts tighten. If the Government did care about child poverty and the lives and wellbeing of (overwhelmingly) female parents who look after them, they would do something,
"A DWP spokesperson said: “Child maintenance is an essential source of income for many lone-parent families, helping to lift 140,000 children out of poverty on average each year. Through continuous enhancements to its processes and powers, the Child Maintenance Service got a record £1bn to children of separated parents last year.
“Child maintenance is calculated so it is reasonable and affordable, according to a paying parent’s income, with the very lowest earners protected by a flat rate of £7 per week.
“Giving children the best start in life is the service’s priority, so parents who can afford to pay more must pay at a rate that reflects what they earn.”
Lots of AIBUs from this:
AIBU to think this is going to get much worse?
AIBU to think that Tory candidates (and the Opposition) should be talking about this?
AIBU to think this does show the Tory attitudes towards single parents - they are obsessed with reducing taxes for married couples as a stable family is "the best outcome for a child" - but when it comes to families who separate, they don't care too much for the child?