Some advice please (PWC)

nixnjj

Hi

I'm after a little advice please.
I'm a pwc to a 5 year old, father has never been involved emotionally or financially. I put in a claim for CSA but didn't expect anything. Sept 09 I recieved a letter stating I would be getting £5 per week and that there were substancial arrears, but at that time the couldn't take more. I assumed that he had lost his job and had signed on, hence the CSA catching up with him. I received a grand total of £20 then the payments stopped again. I then assumed he had found employment.

Fast forward to now. I had a converation with a nice man who informed me that a Compliance Officer had visited his address and had been informed that he was still not working but the CSA couldn't locate a claim for him. I'm aware that he has now married and am just wondering how this could happen. If his wife is not working and is making a joint claim, would that mean I don't get anything. I could understand if he is working and using a false NI number he wouldn't be be traceable. Before I get jumped on the CSA discovered that he registered on Electoral role under a false name to avoid being caught that way and his job before redundancy was paying on an "incorrect" NI number.

I know £5 isn't much but it would let me say yes to an afterschool activity my lad is desperate to join.

Any help is much appreciated thanks

DUTR

Not sure why the other info about the new wife and false NI etc is included.
Are you sure the CSA are not just telling you what you want to hear?

nixnjj

I have no reason to disbelieve the CSA. I heard nothing till they caught up with him due to having to sign on using real name address and NI number.

The reference to wife is because I am asking if making a joint claim in her name could explain why they cannot find a claim in his name.

The reference to using a false NI number again was made because the CSA explained that him lying was the reason they had been unable to trace him for the previous 5 years

I hope that makes things clearer

DUTR

nixnjj wrote: »

I have no reason to disbelieve the CSA. I heard nothing till they caught up with him due to having to sign on using real name address and NI number.

The reference to wife is because I am asking if making a joint claim in her name could explain why they cannot find a claim in his name.

The reference to using a false NI number again was made because the CSA explained that him lying was the reason they had been unable to trace him for the previous 5 years

I hope that makes things clearer

I knew what you meant, but everybody here knows NRPs are a waste of space , if he has a wife, then she cannot claim unless they are separated, he may get a deduction for children living with him, then again he may have taken the wife's family name.
You may have no reason to disbelieve the CSA agents but there are many that can testify the contrary, ring back on Tuesday and you may get a different spin.
Good luck with your claim though, some have to wait years , so if your child desperately needs that after school club position then sacrifices elsewhere may need to be made elsewhere in the budgeting

nixnjj

Sorry my heads all over the place trying to figure this out. I know there are a lot a decent NRP's who take their childrens welfare seriously, unfortunatley I lucked out. I think I was just hoping that a change in claiming name would explain why the compliance officer was told he was unemployed and it would be fairly simple to trace. I've managed this far and I'll continue to do so. Like everyone though the budget is stretched and the only thing I can cut back on is travel expense but I use that to do some voluntry work and have a moral dilema there. I think its good for my son to see me doing something but by doing it, it means my son misses out. Hence the reason for the post, if I have a better idea of what might happen and how long it might take I would be better equiped to make the right choice.

Thanks for your input, it helps just to know someone is listening (reading)

nixnjj

Sorry I have just re read this thread and I confused myself :rotfl:

When I say the CSA cannot find a claim for him I am referring to a claim for Job Seekers Allowance. My question really should state that if his wife makes a joint claim for JSA would that explain why he is not showing on the system ?

Kimitatsu

Hiya

First of all you need to inform the CSA of a change of name - my ex tried that one too. They can then change the details on their system and you can get the arrears allocated to your account. The fact that he has an incorrect NI number is really not your problem, its up to them to change it on the system.

Even if the wife had made a joint claim then he would still be on the claim. It may be that he has had his claim sanctioned and so cannot claim anything OR his wife works and he has run out of contributions based JSA and his household income takes him over the threshold for income based JSA. Because though HE is not in reciept of any income (if it was a joint claim then he would be) then nothing can be taken from him.

The fact that the CSA were unable to trace him in the previous 5 years to be honest is not your issue - they should now be looking at ways to get your arrears paid, after all I cant imagine that he has told them of a change of circumstance. You may have a case for maladministration and/or compensation so I would advise you gain your files under the Data Protection Act (there is a sticky at the top of the board that tells you who to write to).

If you are a volunteer do you not get your travel expenses paid? Most volunteers do.

nixnjj

Hi thanks

I guess that I should work on the premise then that I wont be seeing any money from him. I have never been offered travel expenses,but I thought that was because I don't drive and I only have to get to the volunter offices that I wan't entitled. I will speak to them on Tuesday and ask if they would be willing to pay my bus fares to get there.

Thanks for the advice

Kimitatsu

Being honest Nix if you work on the premise that you wont get anything for a while when it does come it will be a bonus! That is the point I have got to now even though my ex runs a very successful company......

They shoudl definitely pay your travel expenses, even if it is just the bus fair.