Housing Benefit shortfall on CSA nil assessment

bionic_dad

Hi

pardon my ignorance here as I dont claim any benefits and have only been unemployed since end of Jan - first time in 25 years (yes I have been very lucky)

I just wanted to know if i'm being conned or not?

My ex wife works during school hours and up til end of Jan she was receiving CSA payments from me but when I got made redundant I went on to a nil assessment.
Ex wife said no problem as her housing benefit will make up the shortfall and a little extra. However when I got my severance pay (which wasnt loads) suddenly she had a shortfall of about £70 in her HB.

I agreed to pay her £50 pm to help out thinking that i wouldnt be unemployed for too long but im nearly in third month and I dont know how much longer Iwill be able to pay this for?

The CSA despite the nil assessment are still trying to pull funds from me n error so I rang them today exlained it all. They didnt exactly say it as much that she is lying but said thats not right there should be no shortfall you shouldnt be paying her?

Can anyone validate this?

dmg24

You need to give more information - what income does your wife have, how many children, and what was your severance pay? What is the rent payable/ shortfall etc?

bionic_dad

dmg24 wrote: »

You need to give more information - what income does your wife have, how many children, and what was your severance pay? What is the rent payable/ shortfall etc?

Sorry i dont know her income but i'm guessing its around £14k
One child.
My severance pay was well below the taxable threshold. This doesnt come into the equation according to the CSA "that money is to support me for losing my livelihood"
I dont know what her rent is and she said the shortfall in HB was £70

sorry not much help

dmg24

bionic_dad wrote: »

Sorry i dont know her income but i'm guessing its around £14k
One child.
My severance pay was well below the taxable threshold. This doesnt come into the equation according to the CSA "that money is to support me for losing my livelihood"
I dont know what her rent is and she said the shortfall in HB was £70

sorry not much help

Unfortunately without further information it is difficult to advise - is the £70 per week or per month? Does the £14K include any benefits?

You really need to get this information, and then come back and update.

bionic_dad

hehehe you obviously dont my ex wife - all that stuff is classified as state secrets but the shortfall is allegedly £70 per month.
The point I was making tho is that the CSA insist there shouldnt be a shortfall (she's fibbing in other words) but i need to be able to prove that...

bestpud

You don't need to prove anything, as I see it.

You pay via the CSA and they have said you do not need to pay her. What she earns, claims, or otherwise, does not come into it! If she has a shortfall in her HB then that is her problem, not yours.

I can see this is easier said than done when it is your child, and you can continue to give her money, as a goodwill gesture, if you wish. But, if you choose not to, or reduce the payments, you have no need whatsoever to prove, or even explain, anything to her.

She is clearly not forthcoming with her financial information - why should you tell her yours?

Just tell her you cannot afford to keep paying the amount you have been and you are either stopping it, or reducing it, and if you decide to reduce it, also tell her you have no obligation to pay it and are doing it because you want to help your child.

Edited to add: you could perhaps suggest she reduce her outgoings and point her in the direction of this site!

bionic_dad

bestpud wrote: »

Edited to add: you could perhaps suggest she reduce her outgoings and point her in the direction of this site!

hahaha she'd love that!
Thank you for the straight up no messing response I really appreciate it.
I can afford to pay for a little longer but i didnt think I would be without a job so long. I take 'our' son out and I get jibes of "you have money to take hm out but not to pay me..."

Cant kill them can't live with them