The CSA

 

2.1. What is the 'CSA'?

'CSA' is short for Child Support Agency, an executive agency of the UK Department of Social Security (less commonly 'CSA' is also short for Child Support Act).
 

2.2. What does the CSA do?

They carry out the policies laid out in the Child Support Act of 1991, which involves assessing and collecting maintenance. They make the assessments by formula and enforce payment. They are also responsible for tracing absent parents who should be paying maintenance.

2.3 What is CMEC?

CMEC is the successor to the CSA and is now in operation for new cases. It intends to offer less stick and more carrot, encouraging couples to come up with their own agreements.  They have established a new service called 'Options' with operators trained to be more responsive. We would appreciate your feedback. Details of CMEC on http://www.cmoptions.org/

Those under the CSA regime will continue under the old system whcih won't finally die until 2013.