how to claim back csa overpayments

[fragglerocker]

OH pays through csa to his ex for one of his kids. After some enquiring regarding his childs status he has received a letter saying due to...(the reason)... the payments should have ended 5 months ago. OH has been (and still is) paying his ex every week. How does he get back all the money he has over paid? And will his ex be done for fraud? Surely she will have been claiming child benefit all this time too? It is her not informing csa of any changes that has caused the overpayments. Anyone in a similar situation?

Firstly you don't know she's been claiming child benefit or committing fraud so I think you need to forget about that.

Secondly I'm assuming the child has been given to someone else to care for them family/friend/ss. Couldn't she have been passing the money on?

Surely you need to speak to the CSA re tge payments?

The child he is paying for is nearly 19. Csa told OH that for as long as his ex is claiming child benefiit for that child, he will have to continue paying csa payments so we know she has been (still is?) claiming CB. The letter came from the csa saying the liability to pay finished a few months ago, this was after OH rang them to query something else about his child and the reason in the letter is different to what he rang about. It's a nightmare to get through to the csa and they just fob you off with different excuses whenever you ring. I just wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience and what they did. I know it won't be easy getting the money back but surely OH is entitled to it?

Oh right so has the 'child' finished education then? Tbh no I don't know tge answer but know the way mn is about CSA/non rp!

I take it you've looked at the CSA website?

Yeah had a look on the website but doesn't say anything. Might have to ring them. And yes the 'child' finished college earlier in the year which is why OH rang to see why he was still paying and they sent him a letter saying he should have stopped months ago for a different reason. It has obviously only come out when they would have contacted his ex about the college situation and they found out something else in doing so. She was knowingly accepting the payments and still claiming CB when she shouldn't have been.
I know it's a sensitive subject and non res parents get a lot of stick but my OH has never refused to contribute for his child and has willingly done so all their life.