Advice on Child Maintenance please!

CK40

After many years of the CSA messing us about, my ex-husband and I agreed to have a private arrangement regarding payment of child maintenance. This was approx 5 years ago and at the time it was agreed he would pay me £20 a week (we have one daughter) and when the time came, help with school costs and uni costs. Now my daughter is 16 and studying for A levels at school and we have just been denied renewal of DLA for her type 1 diabetes (we used to get mid-rate), so I have had to ask the ex for £75 which is half of the fee for a compulsory Geography Field trip which he is flatly refusing to pay. He also denies saying he would help with uni costs. He also says (after nearly 15 years of separation) that she never has anything, never got enough clothes, shoes, pocket money, credit on her phone and I obviously spend the money on myself!! From now on he is going to pay the money straight into our daughter's bank account. Can he do this?

kelloggs36

As it is a private agreement, he can do pretty much what he likes I'm afraid. The only way around it is to get a court order for maintenance but she would have to do this when she goes to uni as CSA only covers up to when she leaves full-time, non-advanced education.

AnxiousMum

If the geography trip is compulsory, and you simply cannot afford it, go and speak with the headteacher. The HT's do have funds available to help a struggling student on things like this.

RedSky

CK40 wrote: »

we have just been denied renewal of DLA for her type 1 diabetes (we used to get mid-rate)

Apologies for going off topic, why would someone ever be awarded DLA for type 1 diabetes?

CK40

RedSky wrote: »

Apologies for going off topic, why would someone ever be awarded DLA for type 1 diabetes?

Due to the fact that a type 1 diabetic can often need help during the night (and day) to test their blood sugar levels to prevent a hypo occurring. They can also have hypos which render them unable to correct their blood sugar level. If the hypo goes uncorrected they can fall unconcious at which point an ambulance has to be called. My daughter also has fits whilst she is having a severe hypo.

McKneff

Has he always given you cash of £20 a week. If so, frighten the life out of him and tell him there's no proof that
he's ever given you anything and you'll get the CSA to chase for the last 5 years arrears, see if that gets him to
cough up £75.

If not just go to the CSA anyway and start a claim, I think you'll get a lot more than £20 a week, and him
paying into your childs account doesnt count as maintenance, it would count as pocket money for her and he
would still owe you for maintenance for these weeks.

CK40

McKneff wrote: »

Has he always given you cash of £20 a week.

him paying into your childs account doesnt count as maintenance, it would count as pocket money for her and he
would still owe you for maintenance for these weeks.

Unfortunately, it goes straight into bank account!! But thank you for your comment that paying my child won't count as maintenance - that's what I really wanted to know!!

Thank you!!

McKneff

What a father eh. I bet you cant even feed her for £20 a week.

Good luck OP and you your daughter,

Karma to your ex:D

dimbo61

ring the csa

RedSky

CK40 wrote: »

Due to the fact that a type 1 diabetic can often need help during the night (and day) to test their blood sugar levels to prevent a hypo occurring. They can also have hypos which render them unable to correct their blood sugar level. If the hypo goes uncorrected they can fall unconcious at which point an ambulance has to be called. My daughter also has fits whilst she is having a severe hypo.

That really surprises me. Having lived with two type 1 diabetics who also suffered sever hypos without warning (numerous ambulance calls), the diabetics only considered DLA appropriate when diabetes caused loss of sight and an amputated limb.

As posted by others, if you are disagreeing on maintenance then apply to the CSA.

kelloggs36

McKneff wrote: »

Has he always given you cash of £20 a week. If so, frighten the life out of him and tell him there's no proof that
he's ever given you anything and you'll get the CSA to chase for the last 5 years arrears, see if that gets him to
cough up £75.

If not just go to the CSA anyway and start a claim, I think you'll get a lot more than £20 a week, and him
paying into your childs account doesnt count as maintenance, it would count as pocket money for her and he
would still owe you for maintenance for these weeks.

unless the CSA calculated the amount in the first place and kept the file open, then you can't go back - they would certainly question why you have left it so long if he wasn't paying anything.