CSA advice

mikeM_2

Hi,

I have a daughter aged 16 (17 in October) who has always lived with her mother. She's just finished school and is looking to start a college course in September -

however she's not very academic and isn't looking to progress to university. I don't go through the CSA (the mother started a claim through the CSA but I talked her out of it, we have had a private arrangement for about 10 years).

I am intending to stop the child maintenance payments when my daughter turns 18 years old and was wondering what my options were if the mother starts becoming difficult. Would she be able to start another claim if I stopped paying? I've had a look at the CSA website but find it a little confusing, it looks like if she went down this route I may have to pay until my daughter is aged 20 if she continues in education.

Many thanks for any advice
Mike M

timbo58

AFAIAA only if the child is in full time education can there be a claim after the age of 16.
If they ARE in full time education (up to A level standard not above) then not over the age of 20.

https://www.gov.uk/when-child-maintenance-payments-stop

So, if she remains at college, a CSA claim looks valid up to the age of 20, if she doesn't go to college then a CSA claim is not possible.
If you stop paying and she's eligible & the mother goes to the CSA then the claim will be administered by the CSA who have various means to extract money including a 'detachment of earnings'.

I recommend families need fathers http://www.fnf.org.uk for further advice.

mikeM_2

timbo58 wrote: »

AFAIAA only if the child is in full time education can there be a claim after the age of 16.
If they ARE in full time education (up to A level standard not above) then not over the age of 20.

So, if she remains at college, a CSA claim looks valid up to the age of 20, if she doesn't go to college then a CSA claim is not possible.
If you stop paying and she's eligible & the mother goes to the CSA then the claim will be administered by the CSA who have various means to extract money including a 'detachment of earnings'.

I recommend families need fathers

many thanks

shoe*diva79

All the time child benefit is in place, CM is payable so worth having a look on the CB website to see what courses qualify.

Are you aware that your daughter must be in education until she is 18 now anyway? And given she is an October baby, she would be almost 19 when she can legally come out of education. If you stop CM on her 18th birthday then you will find the mum can open a case against you as you will still legally be liable.

13Kent

The CSA liability depends on the type of course she does, and if it counts as advanced education or non-advanced education. Here is the link to whether Child Benefit is payable. If CB is payable then CSA is also payable. https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-16-19

skibadee

You stated that the mother "started a CSA case" but you talked her out of it.......are you sure this case was never opened and the parent informed the CSA that you had a private agreement?.......

mikeM_2

skibadee wrote: »

You stated that the mother "started a CSA case" but you talked her out of it.......are you sure this case was never opened and the parent informed the CSA that you had a private agreement?.......

well I got a call from the CSA one day saying that a case had been opened against me, rang the mother and talked her into doing a private agreement and never heard from the CSA again. This was almost 10 years ago. I don't know if the mother closed the case, I assume she did.

Should I be worried?

DUTR

mikeM wrote: »

well I got a call from the CSA one day saying that a case had been opened against me, rang the mother and talked her into doing a private agreement and never heard from the CSA again. This was almost 10 years ago. I don't know if the mother closed the case, I assume she did.

Should I be worried?

If a case was opened you should have recieved an MEF to complete, if the case is closed that would be confirmed in writing.

mikeM_2

DUTR wrote: »

If a case was opened you should have recieved an MEF to complete, if the case is closed that would be confirmed in writing.

I didn't receive any documentation from the CSA. There was just the one phone call. Mind you, the mother didn't know my address at the time, only my telephone number.

DUTR

mikeM wrote: »

I didn't receive any documentation from the CSA. There was just the one phone call. Mind you, the mother didn't know my address at the time, only my telephone number.

They have the means to find your address easily.

mikeM_2

I didn't receive an MEF to complete; I got a call from the CSA out of the blue so I rang the mother and sorted a private arrangement with her. I was never contacted by the CSA again, from this I assume there isn't an open case file somewhere on the CSA's database racking up unpaid maintenance on my behalf.

My daughter turns 18 years old this October, she is currently on a course that helps NEETs (google : "power in partnership") but I am not sure if it qualifies for the CSA conditions of being in education (however it is registered with NCFE):

Would anyone know if the CSA would be able to get involved if I decided to stop paying maintenance, given the nature of the course she is on? She is almost certainly not going on to continue in further education as she has already dropped out of a college course (to be put on this course by her mother). What she really wants to do is get a job.

Many thanks in advance