Help! How do I claim back CSA Overpayments?

belsh_2

Hello all.
I have only just recently got in touch with my daughter who was born 03/09/87. I've paid the maximum assessment all her years and her mother claimed benefits. She tells me she left school aged 16 in July 2003 and did not go into any form of further education. However my assessment ran until 04/09/06; 3 years too long. Her mother must have told the CSA she was going on to further education.
At the weekly rate of £75.80 I calculate an overcharge of £11,824.80 for the three years. The CSA state as of today's date I still have arrears of ?7,438.60 which would mean as of now I've overpaid them nearly ?4,400.
They continue to have a DEO in place for ?200 pcm which means I will continue to overpay whilst they look into this. I've written to them asking to stop the DEO and review the case asap which I am told will take months. I've also requested a copy of all my files.
Can anyone offer any advice or assistance on what I should do next?
Any useful help gratefully received.

kelloggs36

Do you have any EVIDENCE that she did not go to school? Just asking as it will back up your case. You could also contact the Inland Revenue and make a complaint about child benefit fraud - if child benefit was in payment then the CSA will be payable. It would be down to the child benefit to be recovered for the CSA to also go down that route.

belsh_2

Kellogs she told me herself! She did not even take her GCSE's.

She then even went to live in Spain for 8 or 9 months.

belsh_2

I understand that Child Benefit and Child Support are interlinked, but how do I go about converting what she has told me into a substantial claim?

Can you claim child support via the CSA without child benefit?

Do the CSA enquire at 16 with the PWC or the child about what their intentions are?

How do I go about raisng it with the Inland Revenue?

Blue_Horizon

Belsh - you need to build a case with as much supporting evidence as possible. You need all the relevant dates listed, CSA payments etc. You could contact the school and get a letter showing her leaving date. If your D is over 17 you will need her permission because of Data Protection. A signed statement from your D would also be good evidence.

Once you have this you have request a reassessment. This will not be the end of it as you will then have to fight to get your money back too.

As Kelloggs states you should report your ex to the HMRC as a Child Benefit cheat.

belsh_2

To both of you.

I am actioning your advice. I'vwe also asked for the support of my MP.

Blue_Horizon

MP is a good one too. The CSA respond quicker when the MP is involved.

I've found the key is to have a clear and documented case.

LizzieS_2

belsh wrote: »

Hello all.
I have only just recently got in touch with my daughter who was born 03/09/87. I've paid the maximum assessment all her years and her mother claimed benefits. She tells me she left school aged 16 in July 2003 and did not go into any form of further education.

She could not leave school in July 2003 as she would have still been 15 then. She should have left in the July following her 16th birthday - July 2004, but could possibly have left earlier in 2004. You need to get the dates correct otherwise your appeal could fail.

ann1971

In Scotland she could have left in the may before her 16th birthday so dates may well be correct

belsh_2

I've asked my D to pen a letter stating she left school in Jun/July 2003. What if she realises the implications of this for her mother and refuses to cooperate?

I will await her response before reporting the child benefit fraud.

belsh_2

You are right of course, it was Jun 2004.