Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the Child Maintenance Service's policy is when a non-resident parent has overpaid child maintenance; and whether that overpayment is (a) repaid, (b) deducted from future calculations or (c) subject to another process.

The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) has a range of options to resolve overpayments of child maintenance. The course of action depends on the circumstances of the overpayment and the impact of a particular course of action on any children Involved.

Where a non-resident parent (NRP) has overpaid child maintenance, the CMS will first consider allocating the overpaid amount against any arrears due on the same case or against on-going maintenance. They will then look at allocating the overpaid amount to arrears due on any other case the NRP has.

If the overpayment cannot be allocated against any arrears or on-going maintenance, the Service will consider reimbursement. If a reimbursement is made, the Service will seek to recover any overpayments from the parent with care.