CSA

[pidget]

Ex has decided to be a real Salads Chef, fed up of things being on his terms so now think I will go to CSA (I'm sure they're not known by that anymore). We have been apart for almost 10 yrs and have 3 children, he paid regularly for maybe 1st yr but then couldn't be bothered to keep a job so just pays for stuff here and there. He has never said they have been in touch (but on benefit forms you have to give details unles in case of danger, only danger here is that he will stay in a job more than a yr!!). I work in a low paid job as many hours as I can and fed up of him looking like superdad, can I just call CSA and say investigate or will they look at both of us and the poxy amount he has given me (am sure he has it all written down-I just have an empty bank account!!). Sorry if this is a bit rambled but any advice welcome.xx

[ummmm]

You'll have a fight on your hands. They're useless....

[pidget]

Thanks, that's what I suspected and pretty much the reason I haven't gone that way before.x

[chattykathy]

If you claim benefits don't you have to name him and say how much or little he contributes? I thought they then chased him to pay his share. On the point of him being superdad, your kids will realise one day what a selfish git he's been. Well done for working so hard for them! Don't blame you for feeling so peed off

[puternut]

I believe that a drawback of this is that if you claim benefit and CSA (or whatever its called) say he must pay (Example only) £15 a week every week. Your benefit then goes down by £15.

It then relies on him giving you the money regularly which it appears he does not. So you are £15 worse off no matter what.

Cannot confirm this as i have never been in this situation but might be worth checking out

[ummmm]

Only if you're claiming JSA/income support.

[Smowball]

personally think the CSA are a waste of time and energy

[mandy22]

from personal experience, the CSA are useless, an i know a lot of other people think the same. Your kids will grow up to realise that you are the one who brought them up, supported them, provided for them, cared for them, loved them and were always there for them, when superdad wasnt! . in response to the your question i think u can just ring them and ask them to look at case for you. My advice to you is to look at their web page, look at private agreements and suggest to your ex that between you, you draw up a private agreement. Advise him if this cannot be done you, or if he fails to pay up regularly, you will ask the CSA to deal with it, my guess is he wont want the CSA looking into !