Claiming maintenance from father -im on benefit

actionman_3

I will have to give details of my babies father to the DSS.

He hasn't paid a penny of maintenance to his ex wife,in fact I think he moves if the csa find him.

If he doesnt pay in my case do the dss reduce the benefit and then I have to go to court to get it. Or will it be the DSS who go to court to get the money please then Im prepared.

Zara33

The rules have changed you no longer need to give the DSS any details of the father and they will not reduce your benefit.

Legal changes have happened in child maintenance during 2008. They mainly affect parents where the parent with the main day-to-day care is on benefit.
Until the law changed, if you were the parent with the main day-to-day care and you were on benefit, you had to arrange child maintenance using the Child Support Agency (CSA). You weren't able to opt out and make a private agreement with the other parent.
But that's changed now.

• Since 27 October 2008, all parents have had the choice of setting up a child maintenance arrangement using the CSA or making a private agreement about child maintenance with the other parent.
• And if you're the parent with the main day-to-day care, you can now keep more of the child maintenance you receive before it affects your benefits. Read more about how child maintenance affects benefits.

http://www.cmoptions.org/en/maintenance/changes.asp

actionman_3

I will read it later thanks. When I give details of father to DSS if he doesnt pay do I lose money or does the dss still pay and then they take him to court to get it.

Or will it be me? thanks

Loopy_Girl

You don't give any details of the father to the DWP (new name for DSS).

It's up to you if you want to go through the CSA for money. If you do then you would get the full amount from him and then tell the DWP so that they can reduce your IS although you will get to keep the first £20pw.

The only people that will ask for your ex's name is the CSA

actionman_3

Thanks for replies.

The DWP have sent me a letter asking for details of the baby and asking if I have had any maintenance and what am I going to do about getting maintenance.

Ive just put nothing to the answer as Ive not been in the situation before.

plimsoll

yeah basically they want to know if you will be receiving any money so they can reduce your benefits if need be. Even if you received under the £20 you're allowed to keep you're still supposed to tell them but under that amount you would still get full IS. so if you expect nothing then do tell them nothing, if NRP later starts giving you something voluntarily you can give them a call and say you're getting £XX now

actionman_3

So its seems the DWP aren't bothered about the father making a financial contribution anymore then.

I wonder why they sent me details asking about the baby and what am I going to do about maintenance then.

Loopy_Girl

actionman wrote: »

Thanks for replies.

The DWP have sent me a letter asking for details of the baby and asking if I have had any maintenance and what am I going to do about getting maintenance.

Ive just put nothing to the answer as Ive not been in the situation before.

They can ask but you don't have to answer - don't feel under pressure from them.

They have a moral obligation to check but they can't force you to do anything

Soubrette

actionman wrote: »

So its seems the DWP aren't bothered about the father making a financial contribution anymore then.

I wonder why they sent me details asking about the baby and what am I going to do about maintenance then.

They aren't bothered about making the NRP pay as there were certain issues about them doing this that were to the detriment of some families.

They will be bothered if the NRP does make a financial contribution and you don't declare it though.

I expect they send out these letters so people cannot plead ignorance later on. I would do as plimsoll suggests - if you are expecting nothing then say nothing and if you get something, declare it then.

Sou