France launches a new government agency empowered to take money directly from the bank accounts of parents who do not pay child support
PARIS – France launches a new government agency empowered to withdraw money directly from the bank accounts of parents who do not pay child support, with the aim of helping many families – the vast majority of which are led by single mothers – who come out of a precarious financial situation come.
President Emmanuel Macron in a tweet denounced unpaid child support as “an unbearable situation for hundreds of thousands of single parents,” before visiting a benefits agency in Tours, central France, on Tuesday, offering the new service.
“Thanks” for the measure, a single mother of three told Macron, detailing her personal situation, including domestic violence and intimidation from her ex-husband and deep financial hardship. “That is a great relief,” she said.
The mothers who spoke to Macron did not give their names for privacy reasons.
The French authorities estimate that between 30% and 40% of child support amounts are either not paid, only partially or paid late, leaving at least 300,000 families in financial uncertainty.
Single parents represent one in four families in France, 85% of whom are mothers. One third live below the poverty line.
For these families, getting child support – an average of 170 euros ($ 209) per month for each child – is essential.
The measure is also intended to prevent financial pressure and threats from sometimes exerted parents.
Under the new system, any mother or father can apply for the new government service, regardless of whether the other parent disagrees. Once in place, the service takes care of payment of the money until the child is 18.
The issue was raised in 2019 during the ‘grand debate’ launched by Macron to allow the French to voice their grievances after weeks of protests against the government and yellow vests denouncing social injustice.
“I was struck by the number of women who told me they could not live a decent life because their maintenance was not being paid,” Macron said at the time.
Many countries in Europe are facing similar problems.
In neighboring Belgium, drowsy parents have been a problem to the point that the government has taken action by establishing a special service that assists people in their legal quest to get the money due and provides advances if necessary.
Last year, the Czech government proposed a program to guarantee the payment of child benefits to single parents, which will take effect on July 1. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs estimated that the state will initially cover child benefit payments up to 3000 Czech koruna. ($ 140) per month for approximately 24,000 children. The government then claims the money from those who have not paid.
In Germany, it is estimated that about half of all child support benefits from divorced parents are either not paid or not paid in full. In cases where the parents are too poor, the state pays child benefits until the children are 18 years old.
In Poland, a 2007 law established a fund that pays up to 500 zloty ($ 134) for children who do not receive alimony. Before that, parents can ask for a court order to try to get the money, but only about 13% of overdue or unpaid alimony is paid.
In many other countries, such as Greece, Spain and Portugal, the main action is filed in court, often leading to lengthy delays and costly litigation before a decision is made.
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Raf Casert in Brussels, Karel Janicek in Prague, Kirsten Grieshaber in Berlin, Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Derek Gatopoulos in Athens, Aritz Parra in Madrid, Barry Hatton in Lisbon contributed to the story.