Hello,I’m looking for some help/advice on a complex situation regarding my ex fraudulently claiming child benefit and child maintenance. Please be kind - this is incredibly stressful,my mental health is down the pan and I have always provided above and beyond for my child.
Our daughter lived with her nan when she was at college and finished her course in June. She deferred uni for a year and her dad is claiming she’s still in education - she’s doing a course that’s 90 hours over 12 months so well below the threshold. She’s also working 28 hours a week.
Her dad falsely claimed from April that she was living with him - I had a letter from the cms and he told me not to worry and it was apparent this claim went in,in order to pay his ex wife less cms through their divorce as he is ‘responsible’ for another child.
I rang child benefit,cms and action fraud to report this. Don’t worry,we’re looking into it! Ha.
fast forward to July and I’m hit with a deductions of earnings order for £750 odd a month out of nowhere. I’m still battling it to this day. I also had a rival claim in with child benefit - I was told I’d get the payments as I’m the one with full parental responsibility etc,still over see my daughters medical care etc. no,they awarded him the full child benefit award,completely disregarded the information I gave them about her working and her course not being full time and now he’s getting over £2k that’s been held by the cms and I was paying out the private arrangement on top of this. The cms admitted several times as at the point the claim went in,he wasn’t getting child benefit so the cms claim should never gone ahead.
in a plot twist,I’m still owed arrears from when he paid me cms and they won’t help with recovering this. I honestly don’t know where else to turn to this apart from writing to my mp. I’ve had to turn down a job offer as I can’t afford to move and remortgage or rent anywhere else with a doe for £700 odd coming out every four weeks.
so - cms don’t want to know. Child benefit don’t want to know. Action fraud said ring back in six months.
im working like a dog to keep a roof over my head and pay my bills etc. Im supposed to be on sick leave due to complications with an existing condition but I can’t afford to be off.
Any advice would be appreciated. And if you got this far,thank you for sticking with it!