Child maintenance and ESA (IR)

LL30

I just had a random letter through from the DWP about my ESA and a change in circs (there hasn't been one) and it just stated the same info as before - standard waste of money practice on their behalf. Anyway, I happened to notice that it states 'If you receive any payment in respect of child maintenance this could have an affect on the amount of benefit you are entitled to. If you receive any payment or any payment changes you must report this immediately'.

I was always under the impression that CM did not affect benefits, have the rules changed?

stroodes

i would hope so why should you be payed twice from gov and dad

Indie_Kid

Unless the rules changed again, CM is disregarded in full for benefits.

http://www.cmoptions.org/en/maintenance/benefits.asp

stroodes

shouldent be, widows etc why should some children or parents benefit when some can not, should be either , or.

stroodes

any gov that closes this loophole has my vote

Indie_Kid

The idea of this board to give people advice. Not to discuss benefit policy. That's what discussion time is for.

nannytone_2

stroodes wrote: »

any gov that closes this loophole has my vote

it isnt a loophole, it was a deliberate change.
up until about 5 years ago, child mainenance was deducted from benefits after a £20 disregard.

pmlindyloo

LL30 wrote: »

I just had a random letter through from the DWP about my ESA and a change in circs (there hasn't been one) and it just stated the same info as before - standard waste of money practice on their behalf. Anyway, I happened to notice that it states 'If you receive any payment in respect of child maintenance this could have an affect on the amount of benefit you are entitled to. If you receive any payment or any payment changes you must report this immediately'.

I was always under the impression that CM did not affect benefits, have the rules changed?

I am guessing that the reason they wish to know about the child maintenance amount and any changes is so that they do notuse it in their assessment. any regular payments into your bank account would come under scrutiny as to what it was for. after all, it could be income from work!

FBaby

This is why some single parents do very well on benefits, especially there are two or even in some cases three nrps paying.

GobbledyGook

On the other hand one of the reasons it was changed was to protect the families of non-payers. When my Grandad was made redundant we were seriously poor (my brother and I were in the care of our grandparents). My 'father' was ordered by the CSA (in whatever version it was then) to pay £64.15 a week for us. In all the calculations for the help my Grandparents received they were counted as having £64.15 a week in income despite the fact that the CSA only once managed to get £30 off him. This had a massive impact on our lives and is why I strongly believe maintenance shouldn't be counted. A small handful of PWC's might 'rake it in', but the vast majority do not and for those who get nothing the complications it causes are a nightmare.

shoe*diva79

GobbledyGook wrote: »

On the other hand one of the reasons it was changed was to protect the families of non-payers. When my Grandad was made redundant we were seriously poor (my brother and I were in the care of our grandparents). My 'father' was ordered by the CSA (in whatever version it was then) to pay £64.15 a week for us. In all the calculations for the help my Grandparents received they were counted as having £64.15 a week in income despite the fact that the CSA only once managed to get £30 off him. This had a massive impact on our lives and is why I strongly believe maintenance shouldn't be counted. A small handful of PWC's might 'rake it in', but the vast majority do not and for those who get nothing the complications it causes are a nightmare.

Absolutely agree. What the CSA say a NRP should pay and what the PWC actually receives are 2 very different things.