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Hi, I just need some advice please if some could help, i have been paying for 1 of my kids through the csa for about 6 years, i have recently found out the boy is now living with his grandparents in a different town! so the money i have been paying for the child has been going on his mothers luxury lifestyle whilst i struggle to make payments each month just living!
will she still carry on getting payments or will they go to the person who is currently caring for them?
will the CSA even do anything?? i haven't exactly had the best experience with CSA as a few of you can imagine yourselves but it infuriates me that i'm bending over backwards to pay her lifestyle when i'm on my [censored]!!
hopefully someone can help me 🙂
Hi there 🙂
If the mother has been honest then she would have informed the Child Benefit agency about the change in circumstances and allowed the grandparents to claim the various benefits that are available....they would then be entitled to receive the CSA payment. It is the mothers responsibility to inform the CSA, if this hasn't happened then its very difficult for you to prove as the Child Benefit Agency will not discuss the mothers claim with you.
The only redress you have is to report the mother to the Benefit Fraud line, they wouldn't be responsible for repaying the overpayment though. You should speak to the CSA and get clarification on where you stand.
Hello Josh_89
Thank you for your post. I am William, the Child Maintenance Options consultant.
The definition of a receiving parent for child maintenance purposes is the person who your son has his home with and who usually provides the day-to-day care of him. Factors such as who receives Child Benefit are taken into account to decide who will receive the child maintenance. You can find further information about what happens to Child Benefit if your son leaves home at https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-child-not-living-with-you/children-who-leave-home.
If your son is living with his grandparents you may wish to contact the Child Support Agency (CSA) directly to inform them of this and find out how this will affect your case. Their contact details can be found on any letter they have sent you, or online at https://www.gov.uk/childmaintenance.
We have a sorting out separation web-app that you may find useful, it offers help and support to separated families. You can find this at http://www.dad.info/divorce-and-separation/sorting-out-separation.
If child maintenance is no longer payable to your son's mother and you would like to find out what options are available for arranging this with his grandparents, you may wish to visit our website at www.cmoptions.org. Alternatively, if you would like to talk to our team in complete confidence about child maintenance you could give us a ring on 0800 988 0988. We also have some other useful tools on our website to help support separated parents.
- Samaritans – call 116 123
- Shout – text the word ‘Shout’ to 85258
