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Original poster

CSA new claim for IS, do I have to give them details ?

9 replies

dancer11 · 05/06/2007 12:07

I,m new to mumsnet,sorry if this is a bit long.
I was claiming IS since ds born until last year when new partner moved in with us and we claimed WTC. Now he has moved out I put in a new claim for IS and they want to ask me q's about ds's father. If I don't answer any q's about him will it affect my benefit? does anyone have experience of this? THanks.

OP posts:

persephonesnape · 05/06/2007 13:05

I work in JSA, used to be Income support. If you refuse to answer questions about ds's dad 'we' can reduce your benefit by 40%

there are exceptions, if you suffered violence etc, or maintain that 40% less £ a week will affect your child (...) Theres a leaflet called CSL109, which explains the rules in more detail - you should be able to pick one up at a main post office. Hope this helps.

Aufish · 05/06/2007 17:59

Hi, have had personal experience of this, I had my IS stopped by 40% when I refused to name my DD's father. I had told them that he was violent and had threatened my son, but they still made me name him. After the git forced me to have a DNA test and it came back as she was definitely his I was then warned by the CSA that I needed to watch my back because he wasn't happy! The stress that it caused me was unbelievable and even though he's suppposed maintence, I have had a grand total of £30 since 1999!

HappyMummyOfOne · 05/06/2007 19:19

If you refuse to name him they will reduce your benefit. The only way not to have to name him is for him to have been violent and you would have to have proof to back this up - police records etc. They will claim any CSA they can get from him so that it pays for your IS - think they allow you to keep £10 a week.

miniandme · 05/06/2007 21:28

ok anothe rquestion about is and csa, i am at the moment a single mum of 3 kids,i met and got engaged to a new guy and am now expecting his baby.We wont be living togther once the baby is born due to a couple of things needed sorting out,we will once the baby is a few months old though,in the meantime what will happen regards my is and them forcing me to involve csa? Can i tell them we have a personal agrrement whereby he pays x amoutn to me for baby and will they take that into account and leave the csa out or will they still pursue him even trhough he is paying me??

ash6605 · 05/06/2007 21:32

mini-as with the op,they can stop or reduce your benefit,you would have to declare the father.trust me as i have personal experience of this.

kiminutter · 05/06/2007 21:37

Hi miniandme, if you are claiming benefits and you say that your DP is paying you privately they will have to deduct the amount from your benefits. You are only allowed to keep a tenner (IIRC) of the maintenance, and the rest goes back to the government, so the CSA will probably have to get involved. The CSA are a complete joke, so good luck to anyone out there having to put up with them!

Original poster

dancer11 · 06/06/2007 08:25

Thanks for your replies, I've told them I don't want to pursue father, now I'll wait to hear..... Aufish, you say they made you declare, can't you just accept the 40% drop?
When I claimed in the past I ticked box saying threat of harm/stress,and they paid me no q's asked. Have things changed?
I do have history, but I wonder if it is sufficient. Thanks for the leaftlet persephone, I will try and locate it. oh I'm regretting this whole thing now, and am stressed and anxious already. what I'm really worried about is if they raise the maintenance issue he will begin campaign for contact which we DONT want at any cost.

OP posts:

Aufish · 06/06/2007 17:35

Yes I was told that I had to declare him otherwise I wouldn't get the money back until I did, at that time I was trying to support myself and 3 kids and it was a huge chunk taken out. I thought I would be able to cope without it but 3 months in I ended up naming him. Not that it has done me or my daughter any good.

miniandme · 06/06/2007 19:11

I would be naming the father anyway,its just that we wont be living together as soon as the baby is born so i will still be claiming IS.I will give his name and the fact he is givng me x amoutn of maintenance and see what they say,it will only be for a short while anyway then we will be living together anyway.By the sounds of it the csa mightnt even get round to sorting anything by the time we are living together anyway.

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