csa timescales?

[workshy]

having repeatedly failed to reach an agreement with my ex regarding maintainance I have decided to involve the CSA

do they backdate to when we split, and if they have all the relevant details will it take them long to sort?

[BlobChob]

They'll backdate to when they first attempt to make contact with your ex whether they're successful in gaining contact or not. I would love to tell you how long (even on average) that it would take them to sort a new claim but it varies hugely from case to case. It took a year for them to sort mine out and that was a simple, everyday case for them. Although it's run smoothly since.

Timeline everything and make a note of all all calls, dates etc. I stupidly sent in a paper claim which they 'claim' they never received and this delayed my case by 3 months. I ended up making the application by phone which took minutes.
Good luck!

[TastyMuffins]

I applied by phone and it was dealt with quite quickly. Received payment within a few weeks, certainly less than 2 months. I thought they dated it from the time you first contacted CSA but can't be sure.

[Cornwell]

Took a year the !st time - very simple case and CSA had all the details they needed.
18 months the 2nd time (when NRP stopped paying maintenance direct) - again still very simple and they were given all details about the NRP from other sources. Non-compliance by the NRP, even when the CSA know everything about them, seems to confuse the system.
Now into the 3rd period of assessment processes - I shall not hold my breath during what they laughlingly call their '12 week' timescale to assess.