Help / advice needed

fisherman1970

I live in Glasgow and have been separated for about 9 years. My ex and I sorted out our affairs thru a lawyer... I agreed to pay a monthly amount to her for child maintenance and the house and her pension remained hers and I relinquished any interest. Both children are in employment full time. I stopped paying when kids got employment and never missed a payment..now I have been informed that she is contacting the csa for money for the past 9 years as the amount paid was not enough and will seek to get my passport confiscated. ...??

HappyMJ

[STRIKE]As long as they aren't in full time education then don't worry about it.[/STRIKE]

fisherman1970

MJ I edited my post...as maybe the point wasn't clear.

HoneyNutLoop

The CSA no longer accepts new maintenance claims. Instead, applications are made to the Child Maintenance Service. New claims start from shortly after the date they first write to tell you an application has been made. There is no provision for her to ask them to back date for the time prior to her application.

Therefore, you only need to worry if she's previously applied to the CSA, and there's the possibility you've already had an open case running with them all these years. Has the CSA ever contacted you in the past?

fisherman1970

No never had any contact with csa...to be honest this really spooked me been trembling since I got word of her intentions.

justontime

If both children are in full time paid employment (not an apprenticeship) and not in education it is unlikely that child benefit would be payable and there would be no liability for Child Support. Are you sure of your facts about them working full time? If she has made a valid claim for child support you will be contacted with an assessment. Even if you are liable to pay child support they will only assess your liability from the time she made the claim and as long as you pay on time there is no question of any sanctions against you. The comment about taking away your passport is just intended to frighten you.

fisherman1970

One child full time employment the other in a paid apprenticeship which is 4 days work based and one day college.

HoneyNutLoop

fisherman1970 wrote: »

No never had any contact with csa...to be honest this really spooked me been trembling since I got word of her intentions.

Then there's nothing she can do now. If she tried to apply, it would be rejected if your kids aren't in full-time, non-advanced education.

If you wanted to belt and braces it, you could call the CSA and ask them to check if you've ever been named in a case with them in the past. If they say no, then you'll know for sure that it's just an empty threat on your ex's part.

Also, as a side line, while there was talk some years ago of the CSA being given the power to remove passports, it never ended up being brought in. I believe it remains in statute law so that it could be brought in as a power in the future, but that's as far as it got.

They do have the power to apply to the courts to remove driving licenses or commit to prison, but their published statistics show these powers are not frequently used.

HoneyNutLoop

fisherman1970 wrote: »

One child full time employment the other in a paid apprenticeship which is 4 days work based and one day college.

Is it a Foundation apprenticeship? Does she still receive child benefit for that child?

fisherman1970

Thanks....for your swift replies has really helped.

fisherman1970

HoneyNutLoop wrote: »

Is it a Foundation apprenticeship? Does she still receive child benefit for that child?

It's with a multi national company it's all I know and paid 11k for first year