can anyone help? ex trouble

jemtom

me and my ex split up in december last year, i was working but had to give up in february due to having no childcare (worked 3 evenings per week) and ex would let me down at last minute and didnt want to rely on parents too much. he started having son one night a week and paying me £20pw, which was ok, i have not recieved anything off him since the first week of september, and he no longer has tom since around the same time, has seen him here for an hour few weeks ago, and took him out a couple of times in october.
i haven't asked him for any money in ages as i have my pride and he was telling people all i was interested in was getting money off him. i am now really struggling, and i am terriffied off getting into more debt (he had no job i had to get a credit card and catalogue's to get what was needed, especially with a baby on the way. he had been bragging to people recently about his new well paid job, and going to the pub doing driving lessons ect... and i am trying to give our son the best upbringing i can on income support.
is CSA the best way to go? or will i lose out on income support money if i recieve CSA? if it means i will be losing money by getting CSA i will still be in the same position just wondering if anyone can tell me how it works,
any replies appreciated,

dtc04

If you are on income support you can keep the first £20

I would go to the csa, his child is his responsibility as well as yours. Plus when you return to work you will be able to keep all of the money the csa collect so your son will be better off in the long term.

You mention having to give up work due to childcare did you know if you work over 16 hours you will get the childcare element of taxcredits? My childminder works evenings and nights

Kimitatsu

If you go through the CSA he will be assessed at having to pay 15% of his net income. You will br entitled to keep the first £20 without it affecting your benefits, anything else will be taken into account.

CSA will only apply from the date that you contact them so the sooner you get in contact the better

Good luck

jemtom

thanks for your replies, so i i didnt go through CSA but i declared that he was giving me £20pw it wouldnt affect my benefits. i do want to go back to work when tom is in school. where would be the best place to contact regarding maintenance?
thanks,
Jemmax

Kimitatsu

Hiya Jemma

You can declare your £20 a week with a clear conscience It wont affect your Income support or your housing benefit.

If maintenance is not regular then I would contact the CSA and make a claim, they will then chase it for you and when Tom goes back to school and you are earning again then you will be entitled to keep all of your maintenance.

You can find details of how to make a claim here:

http://www.csa.gov.uk/en/setup/applying.asp

Remember that you can always suspend your claim if he starts to pay properly again, you do not have to close it completely.

DUTR

jemtom wrote: »

thanks for your replies, so i i didnt go through CSA but i declared that he was giving me £20pw it wouldnt affect my benefits. i do want to go back to work when tom is in school. where would be the best place to contact regarding maintenance?
thanks,
Jemmax

I'm confused, why want to not go through the csa yet declare the nrp is giving £20 per week if he was not?

It looks like it may be in both parties interest to do the financial support via the csa.
Good luck.