CSA Variation? Please help

YorkshireGirl_2

I am not a newbie but have used a different login to avoid potential problems.

I am a single parent of 4 children, 2 of which are under 18. Have managed for years without help but last year had to go on benefits, no other choice. When claiming Income Support was told I also had to start a CSA claim. Eventually I was awarded £5.00 per week since my ex has no job. However he does have massive savings - well over £500k.

apparently due to new rules with IS in March of next year, since my children are over 12yrs old I will be no longer eligible for IS since I am expected to find work - I therefore will transfer to Jobseekers allowance.

I appreciate my children are not babies however I do think it is important for me to be with them as much as possible whilst they are young and therefore would probably want part time work.

After mammoth calculations working out the ads and disads of working, i.e. losing council tax benefit, free school meals, working 16 hours per week or less, working tax credit, etc etc..... my head is spinning.

I understand I can apply for a variation in the CSA since my ex has savings, even though he has no income from a job. However, is there a point since I am on benefits and I will only get £20 (if I understand the new rules correctly) of whatever he is required to pay.

Also, if he is required to pay a set amount and then I begin work and come off Income Support what happens to the CSA payment, does it get re-assessed or then come straight to me rather than the government?

I know there is a lot to take in here but I just cant get my head round it and wondered if there is anyone out there who has been in similar circumstances who could make it a bit clearer for me because right now it is as clear as mud!!

Thanks in anticipation everyone

Krystaltips

I don't know whether they will change his payment based on him having savings but sure someone will know here....

With the new changes that have come in with CSA, you will get all the money assigned from CSA and it is up to you to inform DWP so they can deduct from your IS. Once you get a job and come off IS then nothing will change because you're already getting the payments... Would it be worth having a look around and starting work now before having to? If you get a job for more that 16hrs pw then you will be entitled to WTC which can really boost an income...

dimbo61

Working over 16 hours a week will help you greatly as you can then get
working tax credit and child tax credit plus child benefit.
Applying for a variation because your EX has £500k in the bank ( WHY !)
might be possible but why did you not get a settlement off him when you divorced ?
If this is compensation from an accident you might not be able to claim and he might leave the country rather than pay CSA !!
If you do get your CSA increased then you would keep all the CSA payments if you worked and came off IS GOOD LUCK
Why not ask your EX to help pay for HIS kids !

YorkshireGirl_2

Thankyou for responding,

If I work less than 16 hours do I not get any WTC?

I have been looking around for a while, hoping to get work in a school so the hours will fit in nicely with my kids and school holidays also - but no joy yet.

YorkshireGirl_2

dimbo61 wrote: »

Working over 16 hours a week will help you greatly as you can then get
working tax credit and child tax credit plus child benefit.
Applying for a variation because your EX has £500k in the bank ( WHY !)
might be possible but why did you not get a settlement off him when you divorced ?
If this is compensation from an accident you might not be able to claim and he might leave the country rather than pay CSA !!
If you do get your CSA increased then you would keep all the CSA payments if you worked and came off IS GOOD LUCK
Why not ask your EX to help pay for HIS kids !

there was no financial settlement when I divorced him. The relationship with him is/was such, that the most sensible thing to do for the sake of myself and the children was to seperate as simply as possible.

If you knew my ex you would realise why I cant just ask him for help with his kids.

Thanks anyway for the advice

YorkshireGirl_2

I should add, there was no financial settlement since I handled the divorce very quietly myself. Getting solicitors involved and going to court would have caused far more problems than I could have coped with having 4 young children at the time.

dimbo61

Check on the government website but I think ! that you need to work at least 16 hours and earn under £16,500 a year.
You get a higher amount if you work over 31 hours and earn under £16,500
but please check with the jobcentre or online as they are the people in the know.
Good luck

dimbo61

Try taxcredits at inlandrevenue for info

tamsin1982

if you make an appointment with the lone parent advisor at your local job centre they can print off a sheet showing you how much better off youd be earning different amounts and how much tax credits, housing benefit and council tax benefit you would be entitled too.
any child maintainence you recieve while working would be all yours

Do you have anyone that could help look after the children during holidays/ few hrs after school?
i think youd be entitled to 80%m of childcare costs if you had to send them to a summer club for a few days a week

YorkshireGirl_2

As I understand it now, CSA get to keep all of the child maintenance paid except for £20 (not important right now since I get less than that at £5.00 per week) but assuming the figure of maintenance is increased, say to maybe £100, when I come off Income Support would the full CSA payment then get directed to me instead of the £20.00?

Or, would I have to make a fresh claim with CSA?

Also, will CSA still be involved in obtaining the payment when I dont get any income support or will it be down to me to secure any maintenance payment?

Sorry for all the questions, this really is all new to me and I am having a difficult time trying to get all the information to work together.

Thanks again

dimbo61

As you are on IS at the moment then any CM paid by your EX would go to the government except the first £10/20 a week.
if working all the csa would go to you !