Can’t rise above poverty line without support from ex

August 14, 2012

I have 3 children to the same man 10, 8 and 21 months. We split up in 1995 due to him sleeping around. We had to move interstate due to my daughters medical condition so she could recieve the care that she needed and leaving a good job to having no job and needing to care for her.

When he was visiting a few years back one thing led to another and we ended up pregnant with my now 21 month old. He was ok, and there was even talk of us getting back together although talk is all that happened as he met a girl when I was 3 months pregnant. After many lies on his part and court orders for DNA tests (which he never showed for).

The court ordered that he was responsible for our son for Child support reasons. After refiling with CSA every thing seemed ok for a while (although he rarely pays child support and it is usually taken from his tax return as he changes jobs as soon as CSA contact his employers)Recently I notice that the amount of Child support owed reduced significantly, I rang them and they told me that my son was taken off the assesment even though he shoudnt have been so they informed me that they would fix it. A week later I get several letters from centrelink as now because my son was removed from the assesment they are saying that I have been overpaid in FTB for the past 2 years (although I actually havent been over paid) and have to pay back almost $3000.

Now my payment has been reduce $120 per fortnight and I have to pay back almost $70 per fortnight (I know this may not sound much to some but that is basically the food money I have to feed my kids). What gets me is that they say yeah it is a mistake and we are going to fix it but we cant tell you when it will be fixed so you will just have to sit on your hand till then. Mean while my already strained budget is being stretched further because they made a mistake.

Now this wouldn’t be so bad if the kids father paid the money that he is suppose to for the kids. They miss out on so much because of it, I try to give them the oportunities that other children have and regularly miss out on necessary items to give it to them, but how much longer can this go on. I see so many men complain about child support and I suppose some may have legitimate reasons to complain but there are many women out there that are just trying to raise their children above the poverty line and cant do that without the financial support from the other parent or CSA stuff ups.

Oh and I am still waiting for CSA to fix the problem.

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