Government policy is to encourage work, returning to work and in-work progression as far as possible to help reduce poverty, however multiple reports have raised concern both about the affordability of maintenance payments and distorted the work incentives caused by the current maintenance levels. This poses a risk to work incentive objectives of Universal Credit.

Government policy is to encourage work, returning to work and in-work progression as far as possible to help reduce poverty, however multiple reports have raised concern both about the affordability of maintenance payments and distorted the work incentives caused by the current maintenance levels. This poses a risk to work incentive objectives of Universal Credit. Type: conclusion | Number: 15 | Paragraph: 76 | Response status: not_addressed Government response: The child maintenance liability is designed to be fair for both parents whilst ensuring the paying parent contributes a reasonable amount of their income to support their children that they no longer live with. It represents an amount of money which is broadly commensurate with the amount a paying p