No CSA payment... what can I do?

helliesin

So, my ex has decided that he's not going to be the kids 'meal ticket' anymore... yes, that was his actual words. The children are 7 and 5! :mad:

So the CSA contacted me a couple of days ago to say that they had noticed that he had failed to make this months payment, and he has told them that this is because we have come to a private arrangement (a lie, obviously!). They are happy to persue it for me, and will issue his employer with a deductions order. However, because of the timing, they have said that I probably won't get a payment until the end of september, although they will deduct the maximum of 40% of his earnings then to clear the arrears. What can I do in the meantime? I have a mortgage to pay, kids to feed, bills to pay! I have just looked into the local food bank and will ask my GP to make a referral on monday, other than that is there any other help I am entitled to? I work but due to having my hours reduced to 30 hrs I am on JSA at the moment... although I dont actually get any money from it because I earn more than the benefit. I am waiting for a claim to be passed for the mortgage allowance but the Jobcentre are taking ages to sort it despite me passing the 13 weeks (they lost the forms, computer accidently cancelled my claim etc!). I have enquired about a crisis loan but it seems this doesnt exist anymore.

Please help! any suggestions welcome... as long as they are legal :rotfl:

x

Thumper7

If you are working, you will not be on JSA. You will be receiving your wages, tax credits and child benefit, and possibly WTC.

I would suggest that you get in touch with your mortgage company and ask, if you are not already on it, to go on to interest only and claim SMI. Are you getting Council Tax deduction for being single occupant.

helliesin

I am on JSA, I work 13 hours so am on JSA because I am working under 16 hrs. I don't get any actual money but they pay my Tax and NI. I also get Tax credits, but not WTC as I am not working 16hrs. Yes, I am claiming the single occupants council tax discount and and council tax support.

My mortgage is already interest only, and I have been agreed that I am entitled to the mortgage element of JSA (they pay the interest I think?) but because of thir errors it is taking ages. It will obviously be backpayed, but in the meantime I am struggling.

Blackpool_Saver

yes, this is what they do, my ex loon is pulling this crap at the moment, employer can take ages to send payment on then csa take ages getting it to you, meanwhile these !!!!less NRP's get away with it


hmmm the censored word was F ec k less

skylight

helliesin wrote: »

I am on JSA, I work 13 hours so am on JSA because I am working under 16 hrs. I don't get any actual money but they pay my Tax and NI. I also get Tax credits, but not WTC as I am not working 16hrs. Yes, I am claiming the single occupants council tax discount and and council tax support.

My mortgage is already interest only, and I have been agreed that I am entitled to the mortgage element of JSA (they pay the interest I think?) but because of thir errors it is taking ages. It will obviously be backpayed, but in the meantime I am struggling.

Because on your first post you mentioned your hours reduced to 30. I think that's where the confusion comes in.

Any chance of your employer giving you 3 extra hours a week to help you out? An evening in a bar as extra would even cover it. You would be off JSA and onto WTC then and the extra would help a lot.

helliesin

Ooops, I meant 13. No chance of employers giving me the extra 3 hours- I was lucky to salvage the 13 I've got... I don't actually even have a 'position' at work anymore, I am just floating around helping people. I have been looking for something to bring it up to 16hrs or more, in fact I would quite happily go back to my old full time hours.

julie2710

Don't know that I have any advice other than what has been suggested. I'm in a similar situation as far as CSA is concerned. I have two boys and I have had £88.57 in total over the last 3 years :eek: useless!!!!

I do work full time and much though it annoys the hell out of me, I would probably be more cash rich if I didn't due to childcare costs

FBaby

To be fair, being so dependent on the csa payment to the extent of not knowing how you will pay the mortgage if you miss one or two payments is very dangerous. At any time your ex could change his circumstances (lose his job, find a lady prepared to support him 100%, become ill, go self-employed etc...) and you would suddenly receive nothing. Because child maintenance is additional to any benefits, you would not be entitled to anything additional in benefits to make up for child maintenance.

Clearly your ex is not happy to pay, so even though csa will do what they say, can you be confident that your ex isn't going to look at other ways to avoid paying?

duchy

FBaby wrote: »

To be fair, being so dependent on the csa payment to the extent of not knowing how you will pay the mortgage if you miss one or two payments is very dangerous. At any time your ex could change his circumstances (lose his job, find a lady prepared to support him 100%, become ill, go self-employed etc...) and you would suddenly receive nothing. Because child maintenance is additional to any benefits, you would not be entitled to anything additional in benefits to make up for child maintenance.

Clearly your ex is not happy to pay, so even though csa will do what they say, can you be confident that your ex isn't going to look at other ways to avoid paying?

The OP has already said she is looking for more hours up to and including fulltime so it appears she has a long term stratagy-and is simply looking for short term advice to get her through her current circumstances.

OP are you aware that those 16 hours don't have to come from one single job - and could even be self employed hours partially. A three hour a week cleaning job or one lunchtime shift in a pub would put you onto WTC and make a huge difference to your income.

Marisco

FBaby wrote: »

To be fair, being so dependent on the csa payment to the extent of not knowing how you will pay the mortgage if you miss one or two payments is very dangerous. At any time your ex could change his circumstances (lose his job, find a lady prepared to support him 100%, become ill, go self-employed etc...) and you would suddenly receive nothing. Because child maintenance is additional to any benefits, you would not be entitled to anything additional in benefits to make up for child maintenance.

Clearly your ex is not happy to pay, so even though csa will do what they say, can you be confident that your ex isn't going to look at other ways to avoid paying?

Totally agree Fbaby. I was about to post what would happen if the ex died? But of course, as you point out, he could also lose his job, move abroad to a country with no REMO, or get with someone who has a well paying job and he becomes a househusband.

emsywoo123

FBaby wrote: »

To be fair, being so dependent on the csa payment to the extent of not knowing how you will pay the mortgage if you miss one or two payments is very dangerous. At any time your ex could change his circumstances (lose his job, find a lady prepared to support him 100%, become ill, go self-employed etc...) and you would suddenly receive nothing. Because child maintenance is additional to any benefits, you would not be entitled to anything additional in benefits to make up for child maintenance.

Clearly your ex is not happy to pay, so even though csa will do what they say, can you be confident that your ex isn't going to look at other ways to avoid paying?

I learnt this the hard way and now never, ever assume the money is coming in, until it hits my account each money.