if you are not working does your ex's maintenance go to you?

[susia]

or to the state? that's it really.

You.

it all comes to you now - but then your benefits will be reduced accordingly.

So if you got £30 a week from him you'd have £10 taken off your benefits - as you get to keep £20 of it before they start messing around with it.

I have a friend who's ex husband earns £80k per year but doesn't pay her anything because she says that as she is on benefits it doesn't come to her. I'm a bit confused. (It doesn't apply to me as I've never asked for anything from my ex as I'm not prepared to fight)

it changed last year - if you were on benefits and went through the CSA then it used to go through them and you'd just get your extra £20 (although think it may have only been £10 then?) a week on top of your benefits.

Now whether the CSA collects it for you and passes it on, or wether you tell the CSA it will come to you direct you get all of it.

However, you're then expected to tell IS that you're getting this money and they'll reduce accordingly.

It depends how much you would get. As FAQ says they reduce your benefits accprdingly allowing you to keep the first £20, however if you would get more maintenance than you do benefits you keep all of it and get no benefits.

yes to add to seashells point about depends on how much - if you got £80 a week - you'd get the grand total of 50p a week IS - as you'd keep the £20 you're entitled to keep - leaving it at £60 - so they'd take £60 off your IS leaving you with 50p

Susia - AFAIK he should be giving her 20% of his earnings as childmaintanence, meaning that she wouldnt need to claim Income Suppport as she would get £20,000. I dont know how that might affect things like housing benefit though

She is a fool if she hasnt investigated it at all as IS is no where near as good as 20k surely!!!! Maybe she has and knows differently? Maybe he is horrid and doesnt pay?

On 20k she would be unlikely to get much HB, but again that would depend on how many children/how much her rent/council tax is.

They generally don't stop your benefits unless you would be better off. She really should look into it.

IS plus CTC adds upto about 8k I think.

I get just under £9.5k IS and CTC for 3 children

Oh yeah I only have two children. I got about 8k.

I forget it changes. I was a how little my friend got but then she only has one child.

yea - I know I'm always at how much mone of my friends gets and then like you I suddenly remember she's only got one child whereas I've got the 3

Apparently they go up a little this month...........(so I've heard - will wait and see what plops into my bank account before I count my chickens hehe)

I should add that apparently the IS and CTC goes up - not the number of children I have

she should bear in mind that 20% is of net not gross, and is reduced for no. of nights the children overnight with him.
Gross of £80k is probably net of approx (v v rough in head figure) £40-45k