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Lone parents

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

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Original poster

Child Support Agency

21 replies

Haily111 · 30/08/2006 11:02

Hello,

i will cut it short as people always seem to have problems with the CSA.

they contacted me a couple of weeks ago to say my claim has gone through (i never made an application) and asked me all about my situation.

My question is
a) has anyone ever had any good experience with the CSA?
b) my daughters father works in the British Army does that make it easier for them to sort it out?
c)If you do claim does that give them more rights?

Thanks for the help.

OP posts:

EllieK · 30/08/2006 21:52

are you on any benefits?
if you are then they will file a claim on your behalf, nice eh!
i haven't found them all that bad, but then my ex and i are still freinds so tend to sort stuff out then i call them to tell them what to do!
claiming doesn't affect anyones rights, just means you are more likely to get your money if he starts being awkward
being in the army makes no difference, they still give them a month to fill out the forms then take it direct from wages if they don't bother to reply
if you are on benefits you will have no say in whether the claim goes ahead or not, they will force you to continue it
hope this helps, anything else, just ask x

Drusilla · 30/08/2006 21:58

He is in the army - do you have his reggy number? If so CSA will sort it out directly with Glasgow and it will be taken straight from his pay.

Original poster

Haily111 · 31/08/2006 07:27

Drusilla - I don't have his number no.
This is what worries me as i don't want him to fly off the handle (ie them taking the money straight from his pay)

EllieK - I am not on benefits, but am on Working Tax Credits, does that make a difference? So in theory i should hear from them quite soon then? Or don't they get in touch with me?

Thanks for your help

OP posts:

Drusilla · 31/08/2006 15:36

I gather that if CSA find out he is in the army they will get straight in touch with Glasgow. There is a whole department there that just deals with this! They are very hot on soldiers not shirking their maintenance responsibilities! I guess it's up to you whether or not you want to go down this route though.

If you are not married to him he will have no rights even if a DNA test proves he is the biological father. My DH is in the army, has a daughter from a previous relationship and he pays every month through his salary, but hasn't seem her for nearly 4 years

EllieK · 31/08/2006 19:37

working tax credit shouldn't effect it, just housing, council tax and income support
call them, they are usually helpful and at least then you'll know what's going on
whether to pursue the claim really depends on your relationship with him, if you get on well, talk to him first, if not you have nothing to lose
and no, it will not mean he has any rights to see your daughter, only a court could decide that
x

Original poster

Haily111 · 06/09/2006 22:49

Thanks for the help everyone.

On a different note, does anyone know the average amount one gets? I need to budget for when i go back to work. Sorry hope noone thinks that is a cheeky question :-/

OP posts:

Emskilou · 06/09/2006 22:53

the amount you get depends on the fathers income and how many other children if any they have, I think it is around 17% of their gross income, dont quote me on that and if I am wrong then somebody will come along and tell you otherwise hopefully!

Emskilou · 06/09/2006 23:05

Ok I think the 17% might be totally wrong that is what I should be getting from my ex dh but we have 2 children and he has 2 other children from previous relationships, have you had a look at the csa website I think they will give you a guide as to how much (what percentage) you are entitled to.

Original poster

Haily111 · 07/09/2006 08:23

Ok i shall have a look at it. Thanks for helping :-)

OP posts:

nightowl · 07/09/2006 17:23

Haily,
if you arent on benefits and never made an application why are they saying your claim has gone through? you dont have to go through them if you arent on benefits surely? can someone correct me if im wrong?

nightowl · 07/09/2006 17:25

oh sorry btw, i have a table thing from them if you want me to copy it for you. it shows the different amounts for earnings, other children and such like.

Original poster

Haily111 · 07/09/2006 19:40

I think what happened is that one of my family made a claim on my behalf (they never know when to butt out), or my midwife/healthvisitor. I have to say it did annoy me as i hadn't made my mind up yet if i was going to claim! In retrospect i think my dd will have an easier life if he pays, but the guilty feeling is still there :-/
I was also scared that he would get more say in how i bring dd up, i just didn't want the hassle that sometimes comes with it.

Could you copy the link for me?

thanks again

OP posts:

nightowl · 13/09/2006 22:47

hi, sorry...i forgot i even posted on this!! its not a link, its a booklet i have. the CSA should send it to you anyway but if you wanted it sooner rather than later i could scan it in for you. good luck.....you'll need it with them. rant, rant.......

Original poster

Haily111 · 24/09/2006 19:31

could you scan it in???
that would be great :-)

OP posts:

HappyMumof2 · 24/09/2006 19:41

Message withdrawn

Lisamarv · 26/09/2006 14:03

Hi, the CSA has a website with an online maintenance calculator, you just enter some basic details and it gives you a figure of how much maintenance they will ask the father to pay... link here

Original poster

Haily111 · 01/10/2006 10:09

Yes actually i saw that calculator, but am not sure what he earns as he is still in training.
When i spoeke to them a couple of weeks ago they kept pointing out that it was Law that he pays and i need to prove to them that he pays me maintenance before they stop the claim. Obviously i can't do that, as he doesnt.
I am starting to understand why they are doing it, but am not sure what her father is going to say :-/

OP posts:

Judy1234 · 01/10/2006 10:15

If someone made a claim on your behalf without your authority that is fraud and forging of your signature and a very serious matter. You should in writing if you don't want the claim to go ahead write all that down and have it withdrawn. On the other hand the CSA will enforce payments for you and take from his wages so a lot of mothers prefer to go down that route and it can work well.

As for what he pays it depends on his income and any other new family. If you have one child he has to pay 15% of his net income usually.

As for rights the comment above about unmarried fathers not having a right to see their children - that was changed. David Blunkett changed it and then used that change to enable him to see his son (born to a married woman) and they had a DNA test to prove he was the father. It is probably in the interests of most children to see their father so I think that's a good change.

Original poster

Haily111 · 01/10/2006 10:23

Absolutely i agree about the right for them to see their children. I would think its great if he would see her. I was just wondering what rights he would have. I am not a bad mother (just to make that clear) but he is originally from South Africa, so i was afraid he'd have he right to take her back there.

Thank you for your comments about the CSA i think i will get in touch with them and speak to them about the fact that i didn't make the claim. I am still not a 100% sure i want to go through with it. It isn't an easy decision...

So they can't actually make me go throug with this claim right?

Thanks again x x x

OP posts:

Breezie · 02/10/2006 11:14

If your ex is in the Army then he will have a multitude of problems if he tries to avoid it. My ex should pay over £200 a week, but I only get £2.50 pw! I had my application put through when I applied for benefits. My personal experience of the csa has been terrible.

mosschops30 · 02/10/2006 11:17

you do not have to go through with a claim if you are not on benefits (sorry dont know anything about it if your are).

exp decided to pay after they caught up with him after 7 years, and I decided i didnt want it because it was forced out of him and i didnt want anything from him, i wrote to CSA asking them to stop the money, they did and wrote back confirming.

You can claim again at any time if you change your mind

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