How the government’s new child maintenance service leaves domestic abuse survivors out in the cold

For parents who cannot reach a ‘family-based’ child maintenance arrangement, the statutory service is the other option. The government has introduced a fee waiver for survivors of domestic abuse who apply to use this service. But although the reform is welcomed, the way it works still leaves many trapped between a dangerous dilemma: get financial support at the risk of abuse, or avoid abuse and risk financial hardship. Sumi Rabindrakumar and Janet Allbeson explain what the flaws are and how they can be solved