Opting out - A guide for lone parents on how to stop the Child Support Agency (CSA) acting on your behalf

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Updated 13/08/08

Who might want to opt out of the CSA?
You might decide you have Good Cause to opt out of using the CSA if you have made a claim for Income Support (IS) or incomebased Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) and:

you feel the CSA's involvement will cause a risk of harm or undue distress to you or any child in your family; or
you do not want them to pursue maintenance for any other reason.

This factsheet tells you what happens when you opt out of using the CSA and explains what happens at the Good Cause interview. It gives you advice about how to put forward your reasons for not applying to the CSA and tells you what happens after the interview.

How is the CSA involved when I make a claim for benefit?

How do I opt out?

What happens at the Good Cause interview?

How is the Good Cause decision made?

What happens if Good Cause is accepted?

What happens if Good Cause is not accepted?

What is a Reduced Benefit Decision?

What should I do if I'm unhappy with the way I was dealt with by Jobcentre Plus staff?

Further information from One Parent Families about the CSA and maintenance

Update: changes in 2008

GLOSSARY

Child Support Agency (CSA): an agency of the Department for Work and Pensions which works out, collects and enforces maintenance payments from non-resident parents.
Jobcentre Plus (JP): an agency of the Department of Work and Pensions that deals with benefit claims. It also conducts good cause interviews on behalf of the CSA and decides whether a parent with care should have a Reduced Benefit Decision imposed.
Non-resident parent (NRP): the parent who lives apart from the children for whom maintenance is being claimed.
Parent with care (PWC): the parent who lives with and has the day-to-day care of the children.
Qualifying child (QC): the child for whom maintenance is being applied for.

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