Menu
25/11/2003
£300m CSA system fails 'majority' of applicants
A £300 million computer system for the Child Support Agency (CSA), which was intended to speed up cash payments to thousands of single parents, has managed to get cash to less than 4% of applicants.
While the figures are disputed, only a tiny fraction of almost 153,000 people making maintenance applications are actually thought to be receiving payments.
According to government information released by the Liberal Democrats, the struggling computer system, which delayed the government’s reforms by 18 months, continues to malfunction and has left CSA staff to use calculators in an attempt to manually work out the complex assessment formulae.
According to government information obtained by the Lib Dems, since March 2003 of the 152,564 applications received, but only 1 in 3 (53,068) of them has been processed, or ‘cleared’. Worse still, of the cases that have been processed, only 1 in 10 (5,625) has actually resulted in maintenance payments being made.
The figures also revealed that nearly 1 in 5 (17%) of the assessments were found to be incorrect. Figures on compliance, in particular those who are not paying what they should be, cannot be calculated because of "technical issues".
Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Steve Webb, said: "Children are the real losers because of the CSA’s failure to collect and enforce maintenance payments. They are missing out on the cash entitled to them because of government bungling.
"It is scandalous that this multi-million pound computer system is so completely unreliable that CSA staff are having to get pocket calculators out simply to keep the backlog down. Hard-up lone parents will rightly ask where their cash is. Taxpayers will rightly question why huge sums of public money have been wasted."
The Department for Work and Pensions refuted the claim as statistical abuse, claiming that, as around two out of five cases were considered to be closed, a much higher proportion of payments were actually being processed and made correctly.
(SP)
While the figures are disputed, only a tiny fraction of almost 153,000 people making maintenance applications are actually thought to be receiving payments.
According to government information released by the Liberal Democrats, the struggling computer system, which delayed the government’s reforms by 18 months, continues to malfunction and has left CSA staff to use calculators in an attempt to manually work out the complex assessment formulae.
According to government information obtained by the Lib Dems, since March 2003 of the 152,564 applications received, but only 1 in 3 (53,068) of them has been processed, or ‘cleared’. Worse still, of the cases that have been processed, only 1 in 10 (5,625) has actually resulted in maintenance payments being made.
The figures also revealed that nearly 1 in 5 (17%) of the assessments were found to be incorrect. Figures on compliance, in particular those who are not paying what they should be, cannot be calculated because of "technical issues".
Liberal Democrat Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Steve Webb, said: "Children are the real losers because of the CSA’s failure to collect and enforce maintenance payments. They are missing out on the cash entitled to them because of government bungling.
"It is scandalous that this multi-million pound computer system is so completely unreliable that CSA staff are having to get pocket calculators out simply to keep the backlog down. Hard-up lone parents will rightly ask where their cash is. Taxpayers will rightly question why huge sums of public money have been wasted."
The Department for Work and Pensions refuted the claim as statistical abuse, claiming that, as around two out of five cases were considered to be closed, a much higher proportion of payments were actually being processed and made correctly.
(SP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
28 July 2006
RBS to provide 'free' ATMs for poor
Royal Bank of Scotland is to provide an initial 300 free-to-use cash machines in some of the Britain's poorest areas. The bank is currently seeking the advice and support from MPs, credit unions and community leaders, to ensure that the most appropriate locations in the UK benefit.
RBS to provide 'free' ATMs for poor
Royal Bank of Scotland is to provide an initial 300 free-to-use cash machines in some of the Britain's poorest areas. The bank is currently seeking the advice and support from MPs, credit unions and community leaders, to ensure that the most appropriate locations in the UK benefit.
16 November 2005
CSA under fire for compensation payments
The beleaguered Child Support Agency was under more pressure today as it emerged that over 35,000 people have been paid compensation in the past four years.
CSA under fire for compensation payments
The beleaguered Child Support Agency was under more pressure today as it emerged that over 35,000 people have been paid compensation in the past four years.
22 September 2008
'Bumpy Road' Ahead, Chancellor Warns In Speech
Chancellor Alistair Darling has warned the UK economy is to face a 'bumpy road' ahead while tighter regulations are put in place to stabilise the banking system.
'Bumpy Road' Ahead, Chancellor Warns In Speech
Chancellor Alistair Darling has warned the UK economy is to face a 'bumpy road' ahead while tighter regulations are put in place to stabilise the banking system.
12 February 2013
Met Officer Arrested In Operation Elveden Investigation
A serving police officer has been arrested in connection with allegations of illegal payments made by by journalists to public officials. The 50-year-old Metropolitan Police officer was arrested at his home in the Wimbledon area of London at 06:00 on Tuesday morning.
Met Officer Arrested In Operation Elveden Investigation
A serving police officer has been arrested in connection with allegations of illegal payments made by by journalists to public officials. The 50-year-old Metropolitan Police officer was arrested at his home in the Wimbledon area of London at 06:00 on Tuesday morning.
17 January 2013
Two Police And Journalist Arrested By Operation Elveden
Three people have been arrested as part of the investigation into inappropriate payments made to police and public officials. It is understood that two serving police officers and a journalist were arrested at their homes in Hertfordshire and Surrey by officers from Operation Elveden.
Two Police And Journalist Arrested By Operation Elveden
Three people have been arrested as part of the investigation into inappropriate payments made to police and public officials. It is understood that two serving police officers and a journalist were arrested at their homes in Hertfordshire and Surrey by officers from Operation Elveden.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A mostly cloudy start with scattered showers, the showers becoming more isolated and largely confined to the south this morning. Becoming brighter this afternoon, the best of any sunnier spells across northern counties. Northerly winds easing. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:A dry evening with late sunny spells and some long clear spells overnight. Becoming cloudier across the north towards dawn with a few showers possible. Touch of frost in south. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
