Eldest child starts work

JulietAmber_2

My partner was recently assessed by CSA to support 3 children. His eldest is 16 and was starting college last September.
The decision came through and he started paying direct to CSA.
However, eldest child has just told his dad that he has dropped out of college and started full-time work in Burger King last month. He asked my partner to help him with some payments for clothes etc which he is happy to do now that he's not obliged to pay maintenance.
My partner contacted CSA as his ex refused to discuss the matter with him. My partner would rather reduce his maintenance payments and help his eldest son financially direct. However, the CSA say that as the case has just been set up, they can't reduce payments until notified by PWC. When my partner said he'll reduce his payments himself (there's no deo), the CSA said he'll just build up arrears.
PWC sent in child benefit evidence to CSA in August but obviously, this is no longer relevant.
Any advice on what we can do?

sarflee

They can do a child benefit check quite easily, or that's what we were told and they can also ask the PWC to clarify, again this is what happened to us. By law, if the child is not in FTE and working over 24 hours a week, child benefit should not be claimed. I certainly wouldn't reduce the payments before CSA have advised you of any different amounts because you will build up arrears.

If the amount of CSA is reduced to pay for 2 children instead of 3, it reduces from 25% to 20%.

JulietAmber_2

Thing is, I don't think the PWC is letting on that child has left college. This means that she'll still be claiming child benefit and therefore can tell CSA that. The CSA have told us that the PWC has not confirmed that child has left college and therefore they can't do anything.
I don't want her to get into trouble (despite my personal feelings towards her) but it doesn't seem fair that my partner has to continue paying 25%.

gratefulforhelp_2

Well if your PWC is claiming benefits she is not entitled to, then we all suffer.

Maybe your partner should contact child benefits?

The problem is, if she continues to claim them, the CSA can check her benefits til they're blue in the face, it will still show she's getting CB so CSA will continue to assess him as liable to pay for all three.

speedster

ask to be reassessed and inform them in writing, recorded delivery that the QC is now in full time employment.

if they fail to pick up the phone and check with the CB office, then get onto your MP. he/she should sort it from there. they tend to sit up and take notice when MP is involved.

trouble with phoning them about changes is that they don't bother and strangely don't record the calls that matter (or mysteriously lose them). they cant brush it aside once they have an MP on their backs.

supersavershal

We had this problem last year, we even gave the name and address of employer but CSA would not do anything as child benefit was still being paid.You need to ring child benefit and tell them it is being claimed fraudently, nothing will change until child benefit stops.
You could also put in a complaint via email to CSA I found they moved a bit quicker following that.It took us from May until October to get this sorted, and now we are still waiting for our overpayment to be refunded.

Broken_hearted

Easy solution shop her for benefit fraud, CB gets stopped along with your payments. Job done.

smokey112

"Easy solution shop her for benefit fraud, CB gets stopped along with your payments. Job done "

our case was "closed" earlier this year then re-opened again.

We reported PWC in May for fraud for claiming CB when QC was not at school or college. OH called them at weekend and was told it could take years to be looked into - what chance do you have ?

bellabeauty

we are in the same situation, recorded delivery letter to CB telling them the QC is not in further education therefore PWC not entitled to CB (2weeks ago) heard nothing, until we tackle CB we cant tackle CSA so payments continue... then will have the fight with CSA to repay overpayments... arghhhhhhhhh!!! and they say the government is cracking down on Benefit Fraud!!!

JulietAmber_2

Heard from CSA today. They said that as PWC has not clarified whether eldest child has left college and she denied he is working - my partner still has to pay.

shell_542

So next step is contacting the child benefit department. She is committing benefit fraud and fraudulently claiming child support.