New incentive urged for absent fathers' support

The Salvation Army wants discussion on a proposal to give absent fathers an incentive to pay child support by letting them pay into an account which the children will get access to when they turn 18.

A report by the army entitled Forgotten People: Men on Their Own, published today, urges a major overhaul of the whole benefit system as well as child support.

It says current social policy and services focus on parents with children, ignoring the needs of absent fathers, who are often driven by a relationship breakup into drinking, mental health problems or homelessness.

"There appear to be few government services designed specifically to meet the needs of these men," it says.

The report is based on a survey of 168 men at Salvation Army men's hostels, addiction or drop-in centres in five cities and other agencies in two cities.

The report says the men resented paying child support to partners who were on benefits, because such support simply offsets the cost of the partner's benefit and does not give her any more money for the children.

"Several men at different focus groups suggested some kind of savings account for the children, into which at least some of the child support payment went, and which the children could access when they turned 18," the report says.

The director of the Salvation Army's social policy and parliamentary unit, Major Campbell Roberts, said the army stopped short of actually recommending the idea, but felt it "merits consideration".


OVERHAUL

The report's recommendations include:

* Review the adequacy of benefits for those not eligible for Working for Families.

* Review the transfer costs involved in the relationship between child support, court fines and reparations, Work and Income repayable grants, benefits, and Work and Income debt repayment.

* Consider a limit or freeze on debt to make it more worthwhile to work.