csa

iluvfreebies

the csa building in belfast is bomb proof - i wonder why
that comment was a bit offensive jockett its nothin to do with the building or the employees - its the laws the problem - best not to shoot (or blow up) the messangers

rushnowt

A friend of mine as been instructed by the csa that she needs to put a claim in for maintenance from her ex, she's beside her self with worry incase they divulge her location/address to her ex, does anyone know whether this information is gaurded.

Thanks in advance x

iluvfreebies

this kind of information would not be given out to ure ex - when she is completing the application form there is a question asking if the other party is aware of your address just for that bit added security

jockettuk

i luv freebies... offensive .. sorry but the way the people at the csa talk down to you .talk to you like your a nobody , make your life hell and make you wait weeks and weeks and weeks for a decision that should be finalised in days and i was the one they were supposed to be helping.. offensive i was being nice abt them

missprice

rushnowt

again with the csa dont just hope for them to not give out the address of your freind.

make sure they dont give it out.
use a c/o or po box

if there really is a violent ex around then you can insist that you dont try for child support. however this is a rare occurence. and i dont know of anyone that has been believed yet.
i have  heard too many times of  the violent parent finding out an address just by a little phone call to csa. or getting someone else to call for them, all they need is the correct NI number.

simone

edited for tinkerbel

if you think about it, you are the winner in this situation because (like me) you have done all that work of brining up your kids all by yourself. now if that dont make you proud, i feel nothing will.

also dwell on the fact that your ex will have only what the gvmt hands out, when retirement looms. and the way pensions are going your ex will starve. ;D

clairbing

My ex works for his sister and as soon as he got a letter from the CSA he promptly got her to reduce his hours on paper, so that it looked like he was only earning £50 per week, when in reality he earns over £300. The first I knew of this was when I got a letter stating that his maintenance had been calculated at £5.33 per week based on his income of £50 per week. I called them and told them the truth but they said that they can only assess on what is in front of them. I borrowed a camera with a timer and took pictures of him going into work every day for a week and sent them off. They sent me a letter back saying that they didn't have any proof. If they checked his inland revenue records, they would have seen that his income only dropped sharply after he received his letter from them about assessment. They basically said that it was not their problem and that I should be happy with what I've got. I am not going to tell anyone what my response was- not happy!

I know from experience that I am not the only person this has happened to

rushnowt

Thanks for your info,

Unfortunately he was a very violent man, she has been trying to leave him for many years. and eventually i've got her the help she needed to get away, she was in a battered wives hostel at first but now has been given a new home well away from the area, she's changed her name and theres only her and me knows where she is, shes obviously very afraid that if she does apply that this infomation can be gained by him. I'll tell her what you've said but it may be an idea if we have a trip to the CAB again

starlite_2

hi this post wont help anyone but wondering if you know, is c.s payable whilst the child is at university or is this entirely up to the parent as to whether they want to pay?

Tran

A friend of mine as been instructed by the csa that she needs to put a claim in for maintenance from her ex, she's beside her self with worry incase they divulge her location/address to her ex, does anyone know whether this information is gaurded.

Thanks in advance x

I wouldn't trust the CSA not to divulge information to an ex partner.

I had a child by a previous (violent) partner and was on Income Support so i was asked to fill in the forms for child maintanence. I sought advice and was told that if i had been in a womens shelter than a letter from someone official who works there (a case worker?) would be enough proof for the DSS not to persue my daughter's father.

I was in my own flat so i wrote a letter to the department explaining briefly the kinds of things my partner had done in the past. i told them the threats my ex-partner had made if i tried to make him pay for my daughter's care. I did put in the letter the name of my social worker and said she was aware of the history (but i know she was never contacted by the CSA). My reasons were accepted and they have not persued my ex-partner for maintenance over the last 6 years.

When i sought advice about this i remember being told that you have to give clear reasons why you do not want them to get maintenance from the dad. You have to explain why you AND your child could suffer by them persuing the dad for money. It helps to have someone 'official' who can back up your story (social worker etc).

Usually before they agree to not to persue the father you have an interview for you to explain your reasons (you can take a friend for support if you like or you can ask for the interview to be at your home). I got a letter telling me when they were going to come to my home. I was ill at the time (i had severe post-natal depression) so i rang them up and told them not to come to my house because i couldn;t cope with them asking me loads of difficult questions. This is why they said i would have to write to them or get a benefit pentalty for not compling. This is why i wrote them a letter outlining why i didn;t want them to get maintanence.

There are probably specific guidelines one what you must tell them i.e. that you are in real fear etc etc and this info can be found in the social security handbook you can get from a library.
I really feel for your friend. I hope it works out for her.

jockettuk

my friend got her doctor to write to them explaining her health would suffer if they contacted her ex.. she suffers depression and all the stress and worry was adding to it , so the doctor intervened on her behalf and it workded the csa stopped hassling her and didnt pursue her ex.