BBC News Online: UK

Child support complaints up by a third

The Independent Case Examiner (ICE), Anne Parker, received 1,488 complaints, 765 of which were accepted for investigation - an increase of 31%.

In her annual report, Mrs Parker also predicted a further massive leap in grievances from April when the CSA starts to calculate maintenance payments on net pay rather than a complex formula of up to 108 pieces of information.

The government has indicated the new system will be phased in during a five-year period.

"The agency is facing real challenges next year," added Mrs Parker, who leaves her post at the end of this month to head the National Care Standards Commission.

"Parts of the system are getting better and my overall concern is that the new system should not be damned if complaints go up.

Legitimate complaints

"People will still have legitimate complaints, which will get put right much more quickly."

The Child Support Minister, Patricia Hollis, said: "The agency clearly faces a challenging year as it prepares for the new, simpler system being introduced for new cases in April.

"I am sure that it will rise to the challenges ahead."

The ICE has received funding for an extra 18 case examiners to increase its staff to 55.