Child Maintenance ‘Choices’ team to visit Foyleside

The Child Maintenance Choices team are to visit the Foyleside Shopping Centre, Londonderry.
~ Tuesday, 28 June 2011

The ‘Choices‘ team will be available in the Foyleside Centre on Thursday 30 June from 9.00am onwards to chat to parents about the options available to them to help financially support their children.

Child Maintenance Choices is a free service run by the Department for Social Development, to help single mums and dads decide on the best child maintenance arrangements for their family.

Choices staff will also signpost parents to other organisations who can offer help with the other practical issues that can arise, such as housing, debt and employment. The service is available to all parents not just those recently separated and Choices staff are keen to talk to those who support parents such as grandparents, friends or advisors.

Minister for Social Development, Nelson McCausland said: “Separation can be a very painful process. It can be difficult for parents to know where to turn for help when it comes to making sure their children are financially supported following the breakdown of a relationship. Child Maintenance Choices aims to help parents work out what to do. This visit is an excellent opportunity for anyone affected by separation to talk to the Choices team at Foyleside.”

Child Maintenance Choices also provides a freephone helpline service on 0800 028 7439.

This free confidential information and support helpline provides information to parents about the choices they have for child maintenance, whether it’s parents choosing to work out an arrangement themselves with no-one else involved, something put in place through the statutory Child Maintenance Scheme provided by the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division or an arrangement made through the Courts.

Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Anyone can call. Choices can also be contacted by texting “Choices” to 66101 at any time to receive a call back.

To contact Child Maintenance Choices: Phone Free* on 0800 028 7439 Text:- “Choices” to 66101 and you will receive a call back

For further information visit nidirect at http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/choices

*Calls to 0800 numbers are free from BT Landlines, but customers may have to pay if they use another phone company or mobile phone or if calling from abroad.

Notes to editors:

Notes to editors:

1. Around 2200 couples in Northern Ireland divorce every year.
   It is estimated that only about half of the children living with one parent benefit from effective child maintenance arrangements.
2. Through the provision of free, impartial information and support, Choices aims to help those who do not have an effective arrangement in place find a way that best suits their circumstances
3. Those who use the service will receive practical information and advice and a signposting service to other organisations that may be able to help.
4. The service provides information on the three options for making an arrangement:
   - a private arrangement;
   - applying to the Statutory Child Maintenance Scheme; and
   - going through the courts (consent order).
5. There are more choices open to parents claiming benefits. Parents on benefits are no longer compelled to use the Statutory Maintenance Scheme and can make private arrangements, if that suits best. From April 2010, Child Maintenance no longer impacts on income based benefits. Child Maintenance has been fully disregarded in the calculation of Housing Benefit since 27 October 2008.
6. Media enquires to DSD Communications Team on 028 9082 9494. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.