Survey of Maintenance Enforcement Programs (SMEP)

Payment assignment status of maintenance enforcement case, category

Payment assignment status refers to whether the recipient is receiving social assistance and has had his or her case formally assigned to the Crown, or it may signify that arrears exist and that when collected, should be used to recover Social Assistance payments previously paid. Monies that are collected on behalf of the recipient on social assistance are either paid directly back to the provincial/territorial government or are reported and then deducted from the next assistance cheque.

Maintenance enforcement case refers to a case that is registered involving one payer and one recipient and the financial obligations that are being monitored/enforced by the program (MEP). The program processes payments, monitors and enforces cases in order to ensure that recipients receive their payments of child and spousal support.

The data for this variable are reported using the following classifications and/or lists:

• Payment Assignment Status