CSA say they can’t get money from ex as he claims JSA
I split with my ex husband 3 years ago he paid the first 2 months of maintenance (£500 for first two months through CSA) then quit his job since then he has been signing on JSA! For the last year he has been working in a local car garage as a mechanic and also sells and buy cars from his property and advertises his self as a mobile mechanic!!!!
I have phoned CSA weekly telling them details of all of this with address times etc but every time I’m told they can not touch him as he is claiming JSA!!!!!!! What can I do I have reported him to the benefit fraud helpline and for tax evasion. But still nothing has been done yet I have to drive past that garage everyday on school run and see him working. I have three children age 4,7,8 and he has never even put a pint of milk on the table!
Why should my girls have to suffer because CSA just want to pass the buck?
5 thoughts on “CSA say they can’t get money from ex as he claims JSA”
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The CSA don’t like to investigate cases, where they have to put time and effort into it. They’re far too busy stitching up the PAYE people, where they spend minimum time and effort.
As he’s self employed he can easily “cook the figures” on how much he earns.
Carry on with what you’ve been doing and get your MP involved.
It’s not the CSA’s “job” to investigate further than checking whether or not someone is employed or in receipt of benefits. Furthermore, they don’t have the powers to do more than this. They’re not MI5 and I’m afraid they can’t just take your word for it. If someone is claiming benefits, they can only take £5 per week. If he’s working, you could try applying for a variation or appealing the decision to assess him as only having JSA income but I don’t know if there’s anything they CAN do until his fraudulant benefit claim is stopped. I don’t think it’s fair to say they’re not willing to at least try to do something when the law doesn’t actually allow them to do so.
Such an unfair system! As JB says you should get £5 per week from his benefits. I know it’s not alot but it is something.
As Brett also says this will be too hard work for the CSA they only enjoy people on PAYE system as it is easier for them to collect money.
LIke yourself I used to pass on so much information to the CSA but they have to verify it, although I don’t think they ever do. I eventually gave up after 11 years as they are useless.
I am now living with a NRP and it is hell but what the CSA told me if my partner gave up work to look after our youngest they would see this as potentially evading paying maintenance and would allow an assessment to stay in place until we could prove he gave up work due to financial hardship (which in our case it is as we still have a wee one in nursery). DId the CSA amend his assessment once he was in receipt of JSA?
If I were you get your MP involved. Take pictures if you can and report him for benefit fraud. LIke Brett says though he could be self employed and reduce his earnings to nominal amounts and you would still obtain very little.
Catherine,
This appears to be initially more of a case for the DWP than the CSA.
As has already been said, if your ex is in employment whilst claiming JSA you could report him for benefit fraud https://secure.dwp.gov.uk/benefitfraud/
Once any investigation for fraud has been completed and depending on the result, the CSA should then be able to take the period into consideration.
chall ~ afairercsaforall
I was told by the csa that benefits office can refuse to even pay the 5.00 a week! If you think he’s claiming fraudulently then you need to ring benefit fraud and leave it to them to investigate.