Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what mechanisms are in place to allow the collection of child maintenance arrears after a qualifying child ceases to be a qualifying child; and what guidance his Department has issued to receiving parents on this matter.

If Paying Parents fail to meet their financial obligation to their children, the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) has a range of strong enforcement powers including deduction from earnings orders and bank accounts, removing a parents passport or driving license and committal to prison. These powers can be used to collect debt of any age, including after a child ceases to be a qualifying child.

When ongoing maintenance ends due to there no longer being a qualifying child, the CMS will contact both parties to explain what this means. Receiving Parents are informed of any arrears outstanding and provided with guidance on whether they want the arrears collecting, and how the CMS can recover the arrears owed.