Thinking of CSA - Advice Required

blondy24

Hello,

Not sure if this is the right place to post this. We need some help if possible.

Currently my OH has a private arrangement with his ex for child maintenance however it seems that the money is not spent on the children correctly e.g. food, clothes etc. We have talked about going down the CSA route instead because we hope they will have some control over what the maintenance money gets spent on by the ex. Is this possible?

Thanks x

injaroc

unfortuantely the csa have no control over what the parent spends the maintenance payments on just as the government have no say what chid benefit/tax credits pays for.
And to be honest regardless of what the specific money is spent on surely the parent has to spend other money on the feeding/clothing/heating/roof over childrens heads etc. as long as you dont think the children are being neglected in any way ?

QueenieB

If you have real reason to think that the children are being neglected then you can (and should) report it to social services. Otherwise it's none of your business what the money is spent on.

timbo58

actually I think it's only the 'parent with care' that can start dealing with the CSA?
Not sure about that: perhaps someone will enlighten us?

peachyprice

It makes no difference how the ex spends the money whether it was paid direct or through the CSA, It still ends up in her bank account. The CSA can't monitor what she spends it on any more that your OH can.

fannyanna

timbo58 wrote: »

actually I think it's only the 'parent with care' that can start dealing with the CSA?
Not sure about that: perhaps someone will enlighten us?

Nope either of the parents can start a new case.

I'm an NRPP and Hubby and I approached the CSA about setting up a case for him. Ironically the CSA are a lot less hassle than his ex lol.

OP - as others have said no-one can control how the PWC spends the money (especially not the CSA - their far too incompetent to do the basics let alone anything as complex as dictacting to people how they must spend child maintenance). Unless you have concerns about the childrens welfare (in which case you could go to social services) there's nothing that you can do.

Mupette

Can i come at this from the parent with child angle.

DS was four when i divorced, things were bitter but from day one i chose the csa route, all the money was tracable, if he paid they know, if i recieved they know...

The ex accused me of not spending the maintance money on our son.

All because son was not in brandspanking new clothes the once a fortnight he did see him.

What did i spend the money on? food, bills, clothes if they were needed for ds, toys for ds, mind you most of this was out of my money as £70 a month doesnt go far and still doesnt.

Does this seem fair what i have spend the money on OP just becuase the child/children are not wearing new clothes everytime you see them does not mean no money is being spent on them, perhaps the mum is using the money on food and bills to keep the child/children fed and warm.

74jax

blondy24 wrote: »

Currently my OH has a private arrangement with his ex for child maintenance however it seems that the money is not spent on the children correctly e.g. food, clothes etc.

It has already said but CSA will not stipulate to the parent with care what s/he has to spend the money on.

I know it might be hard to see, but the parent with care will be paying for clothing, heating, household bills, rent/mortgage etc as well as other things maybe school lunches, outing etc. It might come from the money you provide, but will also come from their contribution to it too. your money can't just go on the toys, the designer clothes, etc. Other things have to be paid first.

I would have thought the money you provide will be put together with the money they provide and will jointly be going towards the upkeep of that child.

Maybe going through the CSA will make you feel better?

74jax

Mupette wrote: »

Can i come at this from the parent with child angle.


Does this seem fair what i have spend the money on OP just becuase the child/children are not wearing new clothes everytime you see them does not mean no money is being spent on them, perhaps the mum is using the money on food and bills to keep the child/children fed and warm.

Mupette, I cross posted with you, and was exactly what I trying to get across also.

FBaby

Mupette wrote: »

Can i come at this from the parent with child angle.

DS was four when i divorced, things were bitter but from day one i chose the csa route, all the money was tracable, if he paid they know, if i recieved they know...

The ex accused me of not spending the maintance money on our son.

All because son was not in brandspanking new clothes the once a fortnight he did see him.

What did i spend the money on? food, bills, clothes if they were needed for ds, toys for ds, mind you most of this was out of my money as £70 a month doesnt go far and still doesnt.

Does this seem fair what i have spend the money on OP just becuase the child/children are not wearing new clothes everytime you see them does not mean no money is being spent on them, perhaps the mum is using the money on food and bills to keep the child/children fed and warm.

How dare a NRP question where his/her money is being spent on when only providing £70. Isn't it obvious with such a minimal figure? Really, that begs belief...

However, I can totally understand a NRP forking hundreds but seeing his kids in old clothes, not doing any activities, constantly asking for extra money for things to be wondering what maintenance is being paid on. Legally, the pwc doesn't have to inform the nrp how the money is spent, but surely, if it is indeed spent on the children, why not just break it down?

Once upon a time when my ex was providing some maintenance (a long time ago for only a few months!), I did an excel sheet to show exactly what was spent on what (and showing I still contributed much more) just in case he one day decided out of anger to bring it up, but he never did.

Sambucus_Nigra

blondy24 wrote: »

however it seems that the money is not spent on the children correctly e.g. food, clothes etc.

Is the child being starved and in rags? If so, then you need to report it to the authorities.