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Open petition: Strengthen child maintenance enforcement powers and increase payment rates

Created by Kayleigh Woolley
Closes on

The Government really needs to strengthen the law relating to the enforcement of child maintenance payments towards the cost of raising a child. Especially SEN children as this comes with additional costs. Also, to re calculate the amounts, as we think the £7 a week flat rate is outdated and poor.

The Child Maintenance Service is supposed to be a solid security/network for enforcing the law on financial contributions/responsibilities towards children. Yet this is often not the case and many families/children are being failed by this service. The law has to change, and the amounts need re calculating. The law on enforcement needs serious attention and change, as do the amounts that are presented as adequate to raise a child - £7 a week as a flat rate amount is not remotely acceptable.

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    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 2 December 2026.