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Original poster

csa, income support ,i dont understand help!

96 replies

nikcola · 19/04/2004 14:02

i have split with my dp (dds dad) he has moved back in his mom and dad, i have had to give up work and i have made a claim for income supoport and i got a letter this monning from csa and they are coming to see me on wednesday,
i stupidly put on the form that he (dp) was not her dad becauase i didnt want him to pay maintenence through csa i want him to buy stuff for dd each month i.e nappies clothes and stuff that she needs and i cant afford, wot do i say to them will they let us do it this way or will they insist that he gives me money via them (csa) beacause if we do it through them i will lose out from my income support i heard that what ever he gives me for dd they will take it off me through my income support, any acvice greatfully received (used to be shireensmom)

OP posts:
Twinkie · 19/04/2004 14:05

They did actually start the CSA to make absent dads pay to cut down on the income support bill (I think) - they will not let you get away with being paid and not declaring it - I would also be careful about denying him paternity - if your relationship with him go pear shaped and you have done this it will be hard for you to retract it and chase him for any money.

I would get him to give you money as wellas making a contribution to the CSA - is he working??

maisystar · 19/04/2004 14:08

they will deduct anything he gives you from your income support. bloody stupid i know

Original poster
nikcola · 19/04/2004 14:14

yeh he works he gets £1300 a month after tax, how much will he have to pay me? so he isnt allowed to give me things for dd each month instead of money? can we work out a arrangement between us instead of them doing it?

OP posts:
Twinkie · 19/04/2004 14:16

You will get 15% of his take home income - works out at £195 per month.

I don't think they will let you just do your own thing - the whole point of the CSA was to make fathers pay for their children so the state did not have to!!

maisystar · 19/04/2004 14:21

as far as i know the csa will work out how much he has to give you , taking into consideration his wages and outgoings. this ammount will then be deducted from your income support so you will not be any better off unless he chooses to give you more money on top of that without involving them. is the same with everything when your on income support, if you claim wftc then your benefits are reduced. nowt like kicking you when your down.....

Nutcracker · 19/04/2004 14:21

When dp split with his ex wife she was working so they were allowed to come to an arrangement between themselves. However when she then gave up work all payments had to be done through the csa despite his ex saying that she was o.k with the arrangement they already had.
Dp also had no reciepts for the money he had already given her and so the csa now reckon that he owes about 1500 for the time before they were involved.
It is very complicated. If they are coming to visit you at home then ask as many questions as poss as getting info out of them over the phone is like pulling teeth.
Sorry to hear about your split though. Hope you are doing o.k

Twinkie · 19/04/2004 14:23

maisystar - they no longer take into account the absent parents outgoings - a child is more important than a merc - lots of men were buying expensive cars and stuff to increase their outgoings so the CSA stopped taking any notice of them - well unless we are talking other children.

Nutcracker · 19/04/2004 14:23

Do you mind if i ask you a question Nikcola.

How long is it between you applying for Income support and you actually getting some money ??

Original poster
nikcola · 19/04/2004 14:26

oh, sh*t so what do i do about lieing on the form shall i just own up on wednesday? abd tell them the reasons why i lied about dp being dds dad?

OP posts:
Original poster
nikcola · 19/04/2004 14:28

nuctcracker. i appied 3 weeks ago and i havent recieved a penny yet aparently they have been on srtike! ive had £100 to live off for 3 weeks

OP posts:
Nutcracker · 19/04/2004 14:28

Did you have to tick a box or actually explain that he wasn't the dad ???

Twinkie · 19/04/2004 14:29

Not sure - you could act dumn and say you did not understand the querstion - X2bs great way of geting out of lying!!!!!!

I really wouldn't lie about things like this - not only does it mean that you are defrauding the benefits system - something I feel quite strongly about - but you are commiting a criminal offence - and for that I am not sure of the penalty!!

Nutcracker · 19/04/2004 14:29

That is what worries me about chucking dp out. If he goes on the 28th i will only have my wftc which i assume will stop as soon as i apply for income support. What do they expect me to live on ??

maisystar · 19/04/2004 14:31

twinkie, i did mean other children. shouldnt have called them an outgoing!!

maisystar · 19/04/2004 14:33

nikcola, can you apply for a loan from social fund to tide you over?

Original poster
nikcola · 19/04/2004 14:35

nuctcracker, i had to tick weater i wanted to apply for maintenace and i ticked no beacause i didnt no where he was at the time he just walked out wich was true, i said he wasnt the dad beacause of his family they are pakistani and they dont like dd they have never meet her and he is going to pakistan in june to get married and i was scared he wouldnt come back

OP posts:
aloha · 19/04/2004 14:35

As I understand it you will be allowed to keep a little of the money he gives via the CSA - this was introduced as otherwise lots of people were saying they didn't know who their child's father was because the money went straight to the gvmt instead of to the child. You can talk to the CSA about it on the phone without giving your name or details and they really are very helpful IME. If you are on benefits, the CSA will step in and you don't really have any say in it. Sorry. But do call them.

aloha · 19/04/2004 14:36

I'm sorry you are having it so tough, Nikcola.

Original poster
nikcola · 19/04/2004 14:37

i am actuall very scared of his family he has to give his mom £800 a month dont no what for but she takes it off him his mom hasmallready said that if i intefere with her family his brothers will kill me

OP posts:
Nutcracker · 19/04/2004 14:38

I think you will have to own up then, but i'm sure if you explain things then it will be fine.
Good Luck

Maisystar is right too i think you can apply to the social fund.

Original poster
nikcola · 19/04/2004 14:39

another question i lived in care for 2 years am i still intiteled to help from social services ?

OP posts:
Nutcracker · 19/04/2004 14:39

Blimey Nikcola, are you o.k to stay where you are ???

Original poster
nikcola · 19/04/2004 14:40

if i explain to them why i lied they might be ok i just dont wantr to get in trouble and be left with nothing plus i dont his family to start

OP posts:
Twinkie · 19/04/2004 14:41

I really think that you should declare that he is the father and also inform the police that his mother has made threats to you - this is taken very seriously now - there is a whole task force to do with stuff like this.

Also tell the CSA - you could say that you said she was not his daughter because his mother had made this threat to you - devious but it would get you off the hook for lying!!

If he then goes to Pakistan and does nto come back you can inform the DSS (Are they still around) and hopefully they will increase your money.

Blu · 19/04/2004 14:41

Nikcola, explain that you were confused about the pros and cons of claiming benefits - and made a mistake. You should explain about the whole walking out and marrying in Pakistan etc.
I agree that you should't lie about this - remember that you will need support for DD for a long time - til she is 16 or 18, so in time to come , when you may not be on income support any more, the contributions WILL make you much better off. Also, remember you cannot trust him: once he is under the influence of his family, he may not be so regular or generous about contributions for your dd. If you claim csa officially, he will have to come up with the money.