Ex fraudulently claiming CSA, child benefit and tax credit

RAS

This really is a case where you need to scan all the evidence and send it throught to your MP. Alteratively, do they have a surgery near you this weekend?

yan79

I'm sure she has a local surgery, yes. I've emailed her all the details of the case so far but to be honest we don't have a that much paper work as it's all mainly been done over the phone.

FBaby

Your overpayments don't make sense.

Unfortunately, you can't press things further. They will be investigating, and ultimately, she will be found to owe money back. That will include the csa she was receiving. The problem you will face is trying to get it back from her. Not a nice situation, I really feel for you, but think that if the youngest was in education, you would still be paying, so you can't blame your budget problem on this.

I do hope they investigate very soon and that somehow she will start making repayments at some point.

sheramber

yan79 wrote: »

It's the older daughter that's having a baby, so she doesn't really come into the equation really so it won't affect the claim.
The arrears are because We didn't pay for two months but put the money in a savings account. Then they took £460 out of last months salary as deduction from earnings as they said we were in arrears and we'd paid DFE's before so they said they didn't have to inform us. So last month we paid for the previous two months and then this month we pay for last month and this month so this will go on & on until out case is closed. This is why I'm so frustrated. We can't afford such a massive amount every month, it's going to get us into financial difficulty.

If you didnl' pay for two months then you were £460 in arrears.

BUT you say you out that money in a savings account so you still have that money available to pay the arrears.

Last month they took the monthly payment of £230 plus arrears of £230 - £460 so all good you can withdraw the £230 you put in the savings account to make up the shortfall.

You still have £230 in th savings account

Similarly this month they took £230 normal payment plus £230 arrears - £460 and again you withdraw the £230 from the savings account to make up the difference.

Next month the payment should be back to normal £230

However, originally you said you were one month in arrears and didn't know how that hapeened but now you know that you didnl't pay for two months and put the money in a savings account.

Two different scenarios.

Marisco

sheramber wrote: »

If you didnl' pay for two months then you were £460 in arrears.

BUT you say you out that money in a savings account so you still have that money available to pay the arrears.

Last month they took the monthly payment of £230 plus arrears of £230 - £460 so all good you can withdraw the £230 you put in the savings account to make up the shortfall.

You still have £230 in th savings account

Similarly this month they took £230 normal payment plus £230 arrears - £460 and again you withdraw the £230 from the savings account to make up the difference.

Next month the payment should be back to normal £230

However, originally you said you were one month in arrears and didn't know how that hapeened but now you know that you didnl't pay for two months and put the money in a savings account.

Two different scenarios.

Doesn't really matter though does it? The bottom line is, he shouldn't be paying anything at all!

TBagpuss

One thing I would suggest is stop doing things by telephone. Write. Keep copies of every letter.
Write to the CSA, stating the date yur step-dughter left education, her current address, and (if she is willing) a letter from her confirming that she is no longer in education, living with or financially supported by her mother.State in the letter that you are asking them to re-calculate any maintenance due based on the new information.

Write to DWP - again, if at all possible include a letter from your step daughter confirming that she is no longer in education, or supported by her mother.

It is possible to appeal against a decision by the CSA but there are fairly procedures you have to follow - you might find it helpful to speak to a specialist CSA solicitor - it's a niche area so you may have to travel - your local high street solicitor will almost certainly *not* be an expert.

If you haven't already done so, it may also be appropriate for you to make a formal complaint to the CSA on the basis that they have failed to act on the information you've provided about the change in your daughter's situation or to properly investigate her mother's failure to provide updated information as she is under a duty to do Obviously this will carry more weight if done *after* supplying evidence from your step-daughter.

yan79

We saved 260 x 2 and paid that last month (we were 2 months in arrears, but had saved that money as I said, but the CSA reckon we're an additional 1 month in arrears) im
Sorry if that read wrong originally. so when the CSA took the money I transferred the savings into our current account to make up for what they took. They took a double payment again this month. But yes, my finances aren't quite the point. It's that she's fraudulently claiming about £400 a month.

bspm

You will have to forgive me Yan because I left the CSA three years ago and my memory isn't what it was but .....when you received the letter stating what was going to be taken by DDE did it actually state that they were taking that extra amount ?
It used to state what they were taking and when, sometimes the employer has been known to make the wrong deduction, the CSA don't take the money out, they request for it to be taken out, mistakes happen.

Also an earlier poster said that you will have trouble getting any overpayment made to the ex back, you wont. The CSA will pay you back, all of it and then try to make an agreement with the PWC. Try being the operative word.

bspm

* DFE, we used to call them DEO's, I forgot

yan79

No they didn't inform us they were going to be taking any money at all. My husband picked his wage slip up and the money was gone from his earnings. I called the CSA and they said because we had paid by deductions from earnings before then they didn't have to give us any notice at all.