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Written question asked by Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party) on Tuesday, 12 February 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 14 February 2019. It was answered by Justin Tomlinson (Conservative) on Tuesday, 19 February 2019 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Children: Maintenance

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 25 October 2018 to Question 181589 on Children: Maintenance, whether the income information provided by HMRC under a data sharing agreement for the most recent complete tax year (a) only applies to Real Time Information figures and (b) excludes any income from work-related benefits.

Answer

Real Time Information is not currently included within the income information provided by HMRC to calculate a child maintenance liability. Income information is provided by HMRC for the most recent complete tax year they hold within the previous six years.

More recent income data can be used in specific circumstances where a paying parent’s circumstances have changed in a way that breaks the 25% tolerance, requiring their calculation to move from historic to current income.

The income information HMRC provide is based on Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and self-assessment records. This captures income from a range of taxable benefits, including Income Support; Incapacity Benefit; income related Jobseekers Allowance; and Employment and Support Allowance.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
220285
Session
2017-19
Related items
Children: Maintenance
Thursday, 25 October 2018
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Children Absent parents Maintenance
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk