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Child Support USEFUL LINKS
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Fran
Posts: 11,280 Forumite


The following links may prove useful in looking for information about Child Support.
Samaritans ................Shelter...................... Cruse - bereavement support
Women's Aid............... National Debtline ..........Mind - Mental Health
Hideout For children & young people experiencing domestic violence
MensAdviceLine For support for male victims of domestic violence contact M.A.L.E. (Men's Advice Line and Enquiries), 0808 801 0327 Monday - Friday 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm or [EMAIL="info@mensadviceline.org.uk"]info@mensadviceline.org.uk[/EMAIL]
BBC website re domestic violence
Homeless UK Lots of useful links too
Parentline Scotland
Refuge - Domestic Violence Helpine
Refugee-action Help for Refugees and Assylum Seekers
Refugee Council
Safe Harbor - Compulsive Gamblers Hub
UK Parliament - email your MP
Government Heating Grants
Children
Child Support Agency (CSA)
CMOptions Help and info on private child support agreements
Child Support Laws
Child Support Analysis
National Association for Child Support Action
Child Benefit (Inland Revenue)
Child Poverty Action Group
Child Support Action - Help with CSA - £25 year subscription
Families Need Fathers
Healthy Start Fruit, vegetable, milk vouchers worth £2.80/week if pregnant/children up to four.
Families, Relationships, Separation
National Family Mediation
Ondivorce.co.uk
Advicehq Divorce
Al-anon Support for family & friends of alcoholics
Bullying (young people) and Bullying (parents & families) Scottish Executive info
Gingerbread
One Parent Families Scotland Includes info on Mainentance, Gays & Lesbians & Bullying
Maternity Alliance
Miscarriageassociation.org
Babyloss.com
Citizens Advice Websites
Citizens Advice - (Adviceguide - benefits etc. info)
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS)
Citizens Advice N. Ireland - Includes email advice
Citizens Advice - Citizens Advice - (volunteering, jobs, Social Policy info, what's new etc.)
Benefits & Jobseeking
Jobcentre Plus
DWP Guide to Income Support
DWP
Benefits & Work
uk.gov.social-security - Google group
GL24 - Appeal form if you think our decision is wrong PDF
Benefit Rates - DWP (PDF)
Advice
AdviceNow
Welfare Rights on the Net
Community Legal Service Direct
Rights of Women. org.uk Info re women's legal rights
AdviceUK
Online Benefit Calculators
Entitled To
Housing Benefit - Rooms calculator
Tax Credits / Pension Credit
Tax Credits Online Check entitlement online
Tax Credits IR leaflet pdf file
Tax Credits info
Advice.ni.net - Tax Credits discussion - Independent Advice Network
Pension Credit
Housing & Council Tax
Exchange UK Council house exchange and mutual exchange - free limited service/premium (pay) service
Housing Benefit Info
Non dependant deductions - Tameside.gov website
Council Tax Valuation list - government site
Housing Options Help for people with learning difficulties, their families & supporters
Disability & Sickness
Benefits Enquiry Line - 0800 882200 (0800 220674 in Northern Ireland) or Minicom 0800 243355.
Disability Alliance
BHAS - DLA Guide to sickness & disability benefits
YourAble - Info for disabled people
DIAL - Disability information; advice network
RNIB Blind and sight loss help
RNID Deaf & hard of hearing help
National Phobics Society
The Disability Handbook
IB1 - Guide to Incapacity Benefit- Oct 2004
IB214 - Personal Capability Assessment - April 2002
IB204 - A guide for Medical Practitioners (DWP site)
Advice about Benefits for families of Disabled Children Thanks Ted.
Specialkidsintheuk Useful site for parents and carers of kids with any kind of special needs. Thanks Mrs B
(PDF file) Guide to Claiming DLA for children under 16 with brain related conditions Thanks to Ted and cher31e.
National Deaf Children's Society
Providing medical advice to the Decision Maker in DLA/AA: A Guide ... (Thanks to Ted for providing yet another useful link)
The Decision Makers Guide
Motability
Mental Health
Mind
mentalhealth.org.uk
Psychnet UK - Mental Health
Depression Alliance
Depression.org
Clinical-depression.co.uk
Help with Health Costs
Health Costs - Disability Alliance Website
Prescription Pricing Authority
NHS site - Help with health costs entitlement
PatientUK - prescriptions and other health info.
Debt
Citizens Advice - Adviceguide
CCCS - (debt)
Bailiffs (Insolvency helpline)
Employment
Working Families
Department of Trade & Industry (dti) - For Employees
acas - Employment info
Tiger acas - Employment Rights
TUC Employment rights
Work Directions Looking for work
Startups.co.uk Starting a business
Samaritans ................Shelter...................... Cruse - bereavement support
Women's Aid............... National Debtline ..........Mind - Mental Health
Hideout For children & young people experiencing domestic violence
MensAdviceLine For support for male victims of domestic violence contact M.A.L.E. (Men's Advice Line and Enquiries), 0808 801 0327 Monday - Friday 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm or [EMAIL="info@mensadviceline.org.uk"]info@mensadviceline.org.uk[/EMAIL]
BBC website re domestic violence
Homeless UK Lots of useful links too
Parentline Scotland
Refuge - Domestic Violence Helpine
Refugee-action Help for Refugees and Assylum Seekers
Refugee Council
Safe Harbor - Compulsive Gamblers Hub
UK Parliament - email your MP
Government Heating Grants
Children
Child Support Agency (CSA)
CMOptions Help and info on private child support agreements
Child Support Laws
Child Support Analysis
National Association for Child Support Action
Child Benefit (Inland Revenue)
Child Poverty Action Group
Child Support Action - Help with CSA - £25 year subscription
Families Need Fathers
Healthy Start Fruit, vegetable, milk vouchers worth £2.80/week if pregnant/children up to four.
Families, Relationships, Separation
National Family Mediation
Ondivorce.co.uk
Advicehq Divorce
Al-anon Support for family & friends of alcoholics
Bullying (young people) and Bullying (parents & families) Scottish Executive info
Gingerbread
One Parent Families Scotland Includes info on Mainentance, Gays & Lesbians & Bullying
Maternity Alliance
Miscarriageassociation.org
Babyloss.com
Citizens Advice Websites
Citizens Advice - (Adviceguide - benefits etc. info)
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS)
Citizens Advice N. Ireland - Includes email advice
Citizens Advice - Citizens Advice - (volunteering, jobs, Social Policy info, what's new etc.)
Benefits & Jobseeking
Jobcentre Plus
DWP Guide to Income Support
DWP
Benefits & Work
uk.gov.social-security - Google group
GL24 - Appeal form if you think our decision is wrong PDF
Benefit Rates - DWP (PDF)
Advice
AdviceNow
Welfare Rights on the Net
Community Legal Service Direct
Rights of Women. org.uk Info re women's legal rights
AdviceUK
Online Benefit Calculators
Entitled To
Housing Benefit - Rooms calculator
Tax Credits / Pension Credit
Tax Credits Online Check entitlement online
Tax Credits IR leaflet pdf file
Tax Credits info
Advice.ni.net - Tax Credits discussion - Independent Advice Network
Pension Credit
Housing & Council Tax
Exchange UK Council house exchange and mutual exchange - free limited service/premium (pay) service
Housing Benefit Info
Non dependant deductions - Tameside.gov website
Council Tax Valuation list - government site
Housing Options Help for people with learning difficulties, their families & supporters
Disability & Sickness
Benefits Enquiry Line - 0800 882200 (0800 220674 in Northern Ireland) or Minicom 0800 243355.
Disability Alliance
BHAS - DLA Guide to sickness & disability benefits
YourAble - Info for disabled people
DIAL - Disability information; advice network
RNIB Blind and sight loss help
RNID Deaf & hard of hearing help
National Phobics Society
The Disability Handbook
IB1 - Guide to Incapacity Benefit- Oct 2004
IB214 - Personal Capability Assessment - April 2002
IB204 - A guide for Medical Practitioners (DWP site)
Advice about Benefits for families of Disabled Children Thanks Ted.
Specialkidsintheuk Useful site for parents and carers of kids with any kind of special needs. Thanks Mrs B
(PDF file) Guide to Claiming DLA for children under 16 with brain related conditions Thanks to Ted and cher31e.
National Deaf Children's Society
Providing medical advice to the Decision Maker in DLA/AA: A Guide ... (Thanks to Ted for providing yet another useful link)
The Decision Makers Guide
Motability
Mental Health
Mind
mentalhealth.org.uk
Psychnet UK - Mental Health
Depression Alliance
Depression.org
Clinical-depression.co.uk
Help with Health Costs
Health Costs - Disability Alliance Website
Prescription Pricing Authority
NHS site - Help with health costs entitlement
PatientUK - prescriptions and other health info.
Debt
Citizens Advice - Adviceguide
CCCS - (debt)
Bailiffs (Insolvency helpline)
Employment
Working Families
Department of Trade & Industry (dti) - For Employees
acas - Employment info
Tiger acas - Employment Rights
TUC Employment rights
Work Directions Looking for work
Startups.co.uk Starting a business
Torgwen..........
...........

0
Comments
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Here is an old posting of mine lifted from another website I frequent. Please feel free to add on any more suggestions.
Do your homework first, get familiar with the CSA website.
http://www.csa.gov.uk/
Choose the link for CS1 or CS2.
Click on Contact Us and scroll down until you see:
"I have a query about my case / I want to make a complaint"
Click on your CSAC - Child Support Agency Centre.
I would recommend having this page open when dealing with the CSA officer over the phone, just in case they start to fob you off! The case officer can and should put you straight through to a CRO.
When dealing with the CRO - Complaints Resolution officer - always take their name and direct phone number. It should be a geographical number - not an 0845.
Use a phone company that allows any geographical phone number in the country to be FOC up to so many minutes - usually 60 or 90 minutes. Do not transfer your line rental from BT.
This is also a useful link:
http://www.saynoto0870.com/
Always be polite and calm. Have your concerns written down before you contact them. Ask them to write a letter explaining what you both have agreed on in the phone call. You cannot expect to receive a reply the next day - that is totally unreasonable - but 7 working days is not. Arrange another date and time of phone call for an update.
If you still feel you are not getting anywhere now is the time to involve your MP. Explain this to the CRO and don't make it a threat - do it. Contact your MP immediately to make an appointment at their surgery. Again, write down your concerns and have all correspondence, list of phone calls and so forth with you.
Don't forget to mention Compensation.
The CRO does have the authority to put in for compo over the phone. I used to ask for it on frequent occasions. Sometimes I get it - usually 50 quid - sometimes not. But it helps.
Make friends with the MP's assistant (s ) - they write the letters on behalf of the MP, they can phone the CSA via the Parliamentary hotline, they can fax letters through, they can get account breakdowns, arrears figures etc sorted out. Again, ask them when you can contact them ( either in person or via phone ) for an update.
The CSA can also email the MP direct with information too. It is a complete waste of time trying to email the CSA themselves.
Remember MPs are there to help you. The MP will keep a file of your case, therefore all correspondence is recorded and cannot get lost!
The MP then sends your letter of complaint to the Chief Executive's Office with a covering letter from themselves.
If the problem is still not rectified you must approach the Independent Case Examiner or ICE .
http://www.ind-case-exam.org.uk/
Until recently you could bypass ICE and go straight to the Parliamentary Ombudsman, so the PO is your next port of call if ICE proves unsatisfactory.
http://www.ombudsman.org.uk/
Tel: 020 7217 3000
The above number is the switchboard, so ask to be put through to the PO.
Another point to mention regarding the PO is that the complaint must be forwarded via your MP.
Back to doing your homework. It is always a good idea to have the correct page up in front of you when dealing with the CSA.
On the CSA website you will see Advisers Information. Click on it and scroll down until you see Staff Guides. Familiarise yourself with the section your query / complaint is about.
I have found the Enforcement Guide very useful indeed.
The CSA has removed this link from their website.Here is another link kindly provided by Loopy Girl.
http://www.csa.gov.uk/en/PDF/leaflets/new/CSL306.pdf
You can also ask for the Chief Exec and / or a Senior Case Manager to meet you in person in the presence of your MP at the Constituency office.
This posting is not comprehensive by any means. Please feel free to add any more information / links to this Topic.
A couple of good solicitors are:
James Pirrie - he does not take on Legal Aid cases - although I know he helped one person pro bono through MP.
http://www.flip.co.uk/
http://www.sfla.org.uk/ Click on media centre too.
Stephen Lawson
http://www.fdrlaw.co.uk/StephenLawson.asp
But best to exhaust CSA's own procedures first.0 -
Don't forget to mention Compensation.
The CRO does have the authority to put in for compo over the phone. I used to ask for it on frequent occasions. Sometimes I get it - usually 50 quid - sometimes not. But it helps.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2003/frm/Information is not knowledge.
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty.
Beauty is not love.
Love is not music.
Music is the best.0 -
-
...and don't be surprised these numbers may be changed due to this being posted on a public website...I will be unable to locate them again.
Falkirk - 01324 615945
Liverpool - 0151 649 2801
Dudley - 01384 574921
Hastings - 01424 710866
Pontefract - 01623 492378
Plymouth - 01752 7862820 -
The Data Protection Officer
Child Support Agency
Room BP6002
Benton Park View
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE98 1YX
They have 40 days, from the day they receive the request, to respond.Information is not knowledge.
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty.
Beauty is not love.
Love is not music.
Music is the best.0 -
Financial re-dress when the CSA has balls- up!
Credit should be given to Mr GG for locating this link!
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2003/frm/07_exgal.asp#f
Below is the new link.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/financial-redress/
Right - it looks like the govt has removed this link too. Disgraceful.
But people must be made aware financial redress is available.
0 -
A few more Geographic CSA numbers are:
Birkenhead 0151 6490861
Belfast 02890 4385960
Falkirk 01324 625758
Hastings 01424 465095
Plymouth switchboard 01752 726000
Dudley switchboard 01384 488488
"Old System" enquiries 0151 2431901
Lytham St Anne - Appeals 01253 667700
National Helpline General enquiries 0151 2431901
Fax: 0151 2431906
If you are using a mobile even on contract with a free minutes plan, the standard 0845 numbers ARE NOT covered by your free minutes and you will be charged. PLease avoid 0845 where possible.
You can also ask for the CSA to give you a "call back" - it's everyday procedure so don't feel embarrassed about saving your phone bill!Integrity is a dying art!:p0 -
The Child Support Agency Data Protection Unit
Room BP6002
DWP Benton Park View
Longbenton
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE98 1YX.
DATE:
Reference No: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dear sir or madam
Please send me the information to which I am entitled to under section 7(1) of the Data Protection Act 1998. I request all computer and clerical records to which I am entitled, and would ask that the notepad sections of the computer files are dated.
If you need further information from me, or a fee, please let me know as soon as possible.
If you do not normally handle these requests for your organisation, please pass this letter to your Data Protection Officer or another appropriate official.
Yours faithfully0 -
Information is not knowledge.
Knowledge is not wisdom.
Wisdom is not truth.
Truth is not beauty.
Beauty is not love.
Love is not music.
Music is the best.0 -
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/csa/en/PDF/guides/csg_vol7/ch1_ad.pdf
Please feel free to update if this is not the latest published criteria.
Edit: 11 March 2008... OOPs - double post. And I was looking for this link and couldn't find it!
Please see further down for more information.
To the govt. You have removed this link too. Don't worry. I have all 71 pages available for people that need the info.0
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