Can my sister claim any money from violent ex partner? And how?

[mumfor1standfinaltime]

Hi
My Sister split from her partner a while ago now. He was beating her about amongst other things, she had the courage to leave with my help. She now lives on her own with her dd and ds. She doesn't work at the moment (she had a job but left because xp's Mum worked at same place and gave her grief) and so claims benefits. She plans to go back to work once her dd starts pre-school in a few months.
My question is - can she claim any money/support from ex partner? He 'works' for his Dad, I think cash in hand. He doesn't give her a penny and it annoys me. She said she can't be bothered with worrying about it - should she?
Any advice would be helpful, thanks.

if its cash in hand she might as well not bother as the CSA are not much use at the best of times.

If they do catch up with him, he will probably sign on and she will end up with about £5 a week, which IMHO is hardly worth all the effort you have to make to sort it out.

sorry I have no cheerful news

Thought this may be the case, but I think it is the principle of it. He wouldn't even let her take the cot. The kids had no beds to sleep on for their first night after leaving. He wouldn't let her take a thing, except from the toys.
My family had to rally round and buy/borrow things for the kids to sleep on. Sorry it makes me !

No she shouldn't.

If it's cash in hand, he'll do exactly what mosschops says and she'll have a fiver a week (if that) and possibly him demanding that he be allowed to take the children and use them to control her whenever he feels like it (and a court would most likely allow him to).

It is not worth it. Some things you just have to let go, however wrong, however unjust. It sounds like your sister has moved on with her life and picking at this scab would just not be a productive thing for her to do.

Caligula - thanks that helped. I mean that. It is hard for me to see her and the Kids treated like dirt. I guess I just want to know that I have done all I can do.

It's terribly hard to live with injustice.

But you mustn't dwell on it, otherwise it will continue to hurt you and not him.

It really is great that your sister has managed to let this go, and it's to your credit that you don't want to, I can totally understand how painful it must be to feel really angry that she and her children are still being treated badly by this tosser.

But don't let him retain the power he has to make you angry - your sister hasn't, he no longer has that power over her, which is brilliant.

Glad my post helped!

if your on benefits usually the CSA get involved UNLESS there is violence. Her ex partner may get angry and try and find her or kids and be violent again. Its not worth the risk.

I should be getting the £5 per week-but it costs me more than £5 per week getting the csa to give it to me!

i get angry too because its not fair, but at the end of the day my kids will realise that im doing a great job in difficult circumstances. They will love me even more when they realise their dad is a tosser!

Thanks for the kind messages. It really is annoying to see how this prick has hurt her.

She has moved on and has found herself a new partner, who her dd especially likes! She lights up when she sees him, unlike when she sees 'dad' and shakes like a leaf.
Hopefully she will just move on now and leave him behind.

I guess I hate seeong people like him 'get away' with things, like not supporting his children finicially.

mumfor as your sister is on benefits she will only get to keep £10 per week of the maintenace, its up to your sister to decide whether she wants to go the CSA route on not, but she might not want too as she has had a lucky escape and getting the CSA onto her ex might bring repercussions.

Your sister seems to be happy now and is getting on with her life, but sometimes letting an ex get away with something is the best revenge as it shows they are no longer needed and hold no control.

Thanks tinkerbel5. I guess you are right about the 'not being in control' thing, never thought of it like that.