New guide helps
them to make sure their grandchildren are provided for.
Couples with children whose relationships are breaking up are as
likely to discuss separation issues with their parents as they are
with professional advisers, including solicitors. The influential
role of grandparents is revealed today in a survey for Child
Maintenance Options – the free and impartial information and
support service.
According to a YouGov poll of over 1000 separated parents with
children aged 18 or under, 60% said they turned to their parents,
siblings and friends for help and advice while only 27% talked to
a solicitor. Notably grandparents are the most likely to be called
upon of that group, with 30% of the parents surveyed saying they
turned to their mums and dads.
With an estimated 2.6 million children living in separated
families in Britain, the survey highlights the need for the
parents of couples who are splitting up to offer accurate and
useful support. With this in mind Child Maintenance Options is
today publishing a new ‘Grandparents Guide to Child Maintenance’
explaining how they can help to make sure their grandchildren are
properly provided for after divorce or separation.
“More and more grandparents and other members of the family and
friends of separating couples are calling our helpline, seeking
guidance on their behalf,” says Janet Paraskeva, Chair of the
Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. “A quarter of those
using our website are 55 and over and many are grandparents. As a
result we have decided to prepare this simple guide to child
maintenance. We hope it will provide grandparents with the facts
they need to offer the practical support that should lead to more
children benefiting from effective child maintenance arrangements.’
Sam Smethers, Chief Executive of charity Grandparents Plus, said:
"Grandparents play an increasingly vital role in modern
family life, supporting their children and grandchildren through
change and providing guidance in difficult situations. When
parents separate they often turn to grandparents for support and
advice. We welcome this new publication as it will help
grandparents as they do what they can to support their families."
The free guide includes sections explaining what
child maintenance is and outlines the three ways it can be
arranged:
- Privately – without involving the Child Support Agency (CSA)
- Via the courts
- Through the CSA
It also covers common concerns such as how child maintenance can
be calculated, what to do if a couple are not on speaking terms
and how to handle things if a parent stops paying.
The guide is designed for Grandparents like Tony and Gwen. They
recently helped their son David through his separation from the
mother of his son. They knew about the Child Maintenance Options
service and encouraged him to call and speak to an Options
specialist, but they wanted to help him more. ‘We couldn’t give
David any more advice on maintenance because we didn’t know what
his options were,” Gwen said “We didn’t want to give him the wrong
help as it might have just added to the confusion at what is
already a difficult time.” Following his call to Options, David
now has a successful maintenance arrangement in place. He and his
ex signed a private agreement form which they got both their
fathers to sign.’
The free guide for grandparents is downloadable from
www.cmoptions.org.uk or people can call Options on 0800 988 0988
and request to be sent one (from Monday 29 March).
Facts about child maintenance:
- The Department for Work and Pensions estimates that around
300,000 couples with children separate each year.
- Since October 2008, no one has been compelled to use the CSA
- 93% of separated parents questioned by YouGov believe mothers
and fathers still have a financial responsibility to their
children even if they don’t live with them
- Grandparents and other guardians who provide the main
day-to-day care can also make a private agreement for child
maintenance with either (or both) of the parents living apart from
the child
Facts about grandparents:
- There are 14m grandparents in Britain (Bob Broad and
Grandparents Association)
- Almost a third of grandchildren (31%) say their grandparents
are like ‘second parents’ to them (Research carried out by Opinium
Research for BeGrand.net December 2009)
- Grandparents in Britain are spending over £11.5bn a year on
their grandchildren (Research carried out by Opinium Research for
BeGrand.net February 2010)
- Among single-parent families, between half and two thirds rely
on grandparents to provide some childcare on a weekly basis
(Grandparents Plus and Equality and Human Rights Commission)
-ends-
Contacts:
NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the above department
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Miles Fletcher.
Phone: 020 7853 8084
miles.fletcher@childmaintenance.gsi.gov.uk
Charlotte Simmons
Phone: 020 7853 8083
charlotte.simmons@childmaintenance.gsi.gov.uk