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Child Support USEFUL LINKS

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Fran
Fran Posts: 11,280 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Combo Breaker
edited 22 June 2010 at 10:57AM in Child support
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
Torgwen.......... :) ...........
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Comments

  • Sensemaya
    Sensemaya Posts: 1,739 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Photogenic Combo Breaker
    edited 4 December 2009 at 5:25PM
    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.
  • Sensemaya wrote: »
    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.
    There is two sorts of compensation. The first sort is for the CSA's maladministration and as Sensemaya says, that's generally around £50 or so. The other sort is for when you are materially worse off as a result of their errors. Under those circumstances, the DWP, and its agencies, are required to put you back into the position you would have been, were it not for their incompetence. For example, if they should have made an assessment and didn't, they can't then backdate it. However, the PWC is entitled to have that money anyway, even if it's not from the NRP. It's all in here.

    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.
  • Sensemaya
    Sensemaya Posts: 1,739 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Photogenic Combo Breaker
    ...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 786282
  • 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.
  • Sensemaya
    Sensemaya Posts: 1,739 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Photogenic Combo Breaker
    edited 4 December 2009 at 5:27PM
    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.
  • welshcakes
    welshcakes Posts: 639 Forumite
    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!:p
  • Sensemaya
    Sensemaya Posts: 1,739 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Photogenic Combo Breaker
    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 faithfully
  • 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.
  • Sensemaya
    Sensemaya Posts: 1,739 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Photogenic Combo Breaker
    edited 4 December 2009 at 5:33PM
    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.
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