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Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

Lone parents

Nil assesment !! what now?

14 replies

frogosaurus · 01/07/2008 19:18

Hello, im a newbie here even though i have been reading threads on here for quite a while.

I have a 7 year old dd, for the first year my ex paid maintenance then when we split up the money stopped. After 6 years the CSA finally caught up with him (after he kept changing jobs, not sending info etc) they started checking his wages and then I was told it was all getting put on hold as the case had to be changed to the new rules. They finally did this (after much chasing up) and I have just been told he has a nil assesment

He is working at the moment, he has just bought a new house,new car and has just come back off his holidays. How can it be that he doesnt have to pay a penny. He also has a 1 year old by his fiance who he also lives with.

He has contact with our daughter once a week and he buys her absolutely nothing!

Anyone been through this? Who do i go to next to try and get something for my daughter?

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amazonianadventure · 01/07/2008 21:14

sorry i dont know the answer i just wanted to say i feel for you its hoorible,
i have 2 kids and havnt received a penny for 7 years but now the csa has finally got their act together and decided iv supposed to get 65 a week and arrears so it amounts to 89 a week,it sounds a lot but i havent had anything for years

there new thing is also 'dont you think you could possibly come to some agreement between the pair of you?' basically u do it between yourselves and not give us as much work!!

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neva · 01/07/2008 21:34

Surely the assessment should not be nil if he is working? In my case, when things stalled, my MP helped with lodging a complaint. Eventually I went to the Independent Case Examiner, too. These steps resulted in receiving some money for my dd - not a lot, but worth the effort I had to put into it. Good luck!

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frogosaurus · 01/07/2008 21:38

Tried to arrange something between us already but he says he wont give her anything because the CSA says he doesnt have to!!

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ivykaty44 · 01/07/2008 21:39

neva, so is it really worth getting in contact with an mp - did they really help get the csa moving along?

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frogosaurus · 01/07/2008 21:43

Thanks neva i think im going to need it! Writing to my MP is a good idea, did it take you long for things to be resolved?

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gillybean2 · 01/07/2008 21:52

There was a link on here not so long ago with a similar issue. Someone gave some really good advice on options open to you. Will see if I can find it for you, unless someone comes along in the mean time who can find it faster!

Gilly

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PurpleOne · 02/07/2008 01:12

GO TO YOUR MP!

Once MP is behind it, things get moved at a rate of knots IMVHO.

My benefits got stopped a couple of years ago - writing to MP and it was reinstated within 2 weeks, and an apology.
You have nothing to lose.

Whether he has kids or not, or is working, whatever. He is supposed to contribute. If he was on benefits he would at least have to pay a fiver a week.

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Tinkerbel6 · 02/07/2008 10:53

frog get back in touch with the csa and ask them to explain how they come to the nil assessment decision, tell them what you have said on here as he might have lied about his income, they can check his salary through his NI number so can find out how much he really earns.

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frogosaurus · 02/07/2008 17:10

Thanx for the replies.

I am definately going to get in touch with my MP, seems like its my only choice.

Had a letter from CSA today saying that they have just checked his wages through his employer and it is still nil. Ive decided to appeal against the descision again and also I will write to my MP and hopefully it will gets things moving.

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fransmom · 03/07/2008 17:39

keep a copy of any correspondence (sp?) if you can, it may help at a later date if you canget an appointment with your mp. good luck sweetheart xxx

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Harra · 03/07/2008 20:33

Sounds like he is working the system. The CSA IME don't take into consideration a residential home or own car. He probably makes out he has a big mortgage outgoings and with another child is making out his net imcome is really low. Really frustrating for you. What a wanker. Does he have any other assets he could be assessed on? If he has over £65K then he could be assessed on that. Very sorry for you.

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neva · 03/07/2008 21:12

Yes, my MP really helped to move things along. You don't have to see your MP; you can just write to or email him/her and they should forward your complaint on. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but there seems to be a team at the CSA dedicated to dealing with complaints lodged via MPs. The Independent Case Examiner is very good too - a real breath of fresh air. Well worth going down these routes.

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youfillmylittleworldrightup · 03/07/2008 22:35

my ex cleared off long ago leaving me to raise our three kids alone.

ive never had any maintenance either thru the csa, courts or privately. when i did finally ask the csa to act i was also told ex had a nil assesment.

we both work full time and i kept chasing the case now and then but have given it up. was told theyd done a NI payment check and i wasnt entitled to anything.

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frogosaurus · 03/07/2008 22:48

Thanks for all your usefull advice ladies.

Im not going to give up until he starts providing for our dd. Surely if he is working he should be paying something. His partner also works so he has got to be fiddling the system somewhere.

yfmlwru, maybe you should go to your mp too. You never know one day we might actually get them to pay up!!