How much/many benefits?

mum2one

not perfect but to get a rough idea, you can use the website
www.entitledto.com

Don't have to put in your personal details, and tick as thou your a single parent. 1 child etc, and just answer the questions, and at the end if goves you an odea whats she getting.

I'm not saying its 100% perfect as you won't have her actual income/rent etc, but may give you an idea.

If your wife is claiming Income Support, she is only allowed to keep the 1st £20 of the mainatance paid, I think they would deduct£1 for £1 off her income support, but as I don't get maintanance and never have its not a line I've gone down x

DX2

missmontana wrote: »

I don't get child tax credits, mine is all under IS.... it all gets paid in one.

Is that not right then?

That's the old way it was done, some people like yourself are on the old system. I imagine you will be moved over in due course.

missmontana

DX2 wrote: »

That's the old way it was done, some people like yourself are on the old system. I imagine you will be moved over in due course.

Well its all change as of Oct/Nov anyway as my child will be over 7.... so I'll be back on JSA

HGLTsuperstar

Please don't take what I was saying the wrong way, just think the forst thing you should do is get something in writing both regarding the past payments and future ones. Her reaction to this reasonable request will give some indication of if she's got anything to hide.

pd001

Pimpslider wrote: »

Hey'all...

Simple question really, but so simple I don't know the answer!!

I split with my partner a number of years ago and have always paid her monthly, in cash, without fail. I see my child as often and reguarly as I can (at least 2 nights and 3 or 4 days a week).

Stop! Stop! Stop!

Do not make monthly cash payments without ensuring that all payments that you make are fully documented.
By that I mean you should make sure that there cannot be any misunderstanding what the payments are actually for in the future.

You should also
send a letter to the PWC, by recorded delivery only, when each payment is taken from your account, to the effect that the payment is specifically made to support your child (ren).
edit...You should also name the child (ren) that the payment is for.
edit...The letter has to state that the money is for child maintenance and it must also stipulate for what period

Keep copies of these letters, DO NOT LOSE THEM!
DO NOT make cash payments!

Thanks to kelloggs36 who posts on here for some of the above information


And another point of interest for information purposes..
Never make any form of payment direct to your child/ren in lieu of child support arrangements!

It is very likely that if the CSA becomes involved at some time in the future, then any such payments will be regarded as merely 'pocket money for the child' and not child support.

Child support payments should be paid via the CSA, or if a direct arrangement is made with the PWC, then payments have to be properly, and fully, documented.
If direct payments to the PWC are not properly and fully documented then in the eyes of the CSA, if involved at some time in the future, they won't count as child support arrangements.

Do it properly or maybe weep at some time in the future!

HGLTsuperstar

That was the point I was making, but the OP is convinced that it would be a case of one word against another - however the parent with the child is the one the CSA will side with.

mazza111

One of my colleagues got stung this way quite recently. When he told me he was paying her on a weekly basis the alarm bells started ringing. Tried to warn him gently. Next thing he knew, she had a new boyfriend and things got strained between them. He had no proof he gave her cash every week and now has hefty arrears with the CSA along with what he has to pay her everyweek.

Pimpslider

Thanks for all the responses thus far...and thanks for freakin' me out!!

After looking over some records, I have realised that roughly 'every 3 years', she has asked me for a letter. On each occasion she's told me she has had a letter from the CSA about maintenance payments and I had to write a letter saying if I was still going to do this, in cash, every month. Each time I've done this I have put spaces at the bottom for us both to sign, which we have done, and kept a copy of them.

So I am assuming that the CSA are asking her if she is still getting payments from me to enable them adjust her benefits accordingly. She must then have to give these letters in to the benefits office to prove what she is getting. So, in theory, the CSA know exactly how much I have been giving her.

Do the CSA do this...check on the payments every 3 years? I've never had any contact with the CSA. They have never ever called me. The only time I spoke to them was when it all became too much and I wanted to pay her by DD, but they said it was up to 'her' how she got the money. Not very helpful.

(I have drafted up a letter now and will try to get her to sign it stating that up until this date all payment have been made and received).

HGLTsuperstar

You're making a lot of assumptions yet then giving the impression that she's on the fiddle, so how do you know you've been told the truth. You've never seen these letters from the CSA she's received?
The CSA should have been in touch with you directly for statement of earnings etc, something doesn't sound quite right here.

Pimpslider

I don't know if I've been told the truth. Maybe I am too much of a mug. I would assume (again) that the CSA would be on to me if there was a problem and I hadn't been giving her anything.

The CSA have never ever been in touch with me. The only time I can remember talking to a 3rd party about payments was when she moved into her flat (8+ years ago) and some bloke was sitting with us, and that's when we stated that it would be cash monthly.

So can I ask the CSA what the situation is? Can they confirm with me that I have been paying her (from what she has allegedly told them)? Will they give me any of her details? In theory they should say..."Yup, no problem, we have confirmation you are giving her cash every month".

I dunno, you try and do the right thing and potential get rammed up the flange pipe!!! Maybe I should change my sig!