The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that systemic calculation errors within the Child Maintenance Service have left thousands of parents underpaid by an average of £20,000. The fault, traced to a software glitch in the income assessment algorithms, has been in operation since 2018, affecting an estimated 50,000 families. Affected parents are now demanding compensation, with legal groups preparing a class-action lawsuit.
The DWP has pledged to rectify the errors by June, but critics argue that the government's response has been too slow, raising questions about accountability in public service data handling. This incident highlights a broader issue of technological reliance without adequate oversight, a pattern seen across other government departments. As one affected parent stated, 'It's not just the money; it's the breach of trust.
' The government now faces a mounting backlash, with MPs calling for an urgent inquiry.
