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A few points I could do with some help clarifying:
My eldest who is still at College 2 days a week and works 3 days a week has left his Mothers back last October. I spoke to the CSA who said that because she was still in receipt of Child Benefits for him I would have to continue paying. We came to an agreement that would be used to pay his rent which has been done with no extra.
The house has now been put up for sale and he will be moving out, but wont go to his Mothers (mine neither as its too far away), so he will be moving in with his Grandmother (on my ex-wifes side), will I still have to continue paying? He is also 18 in May and finishes his College course May/June, so according to the CSA payments carry on until September - 3 months after college finishes?
Not updated them as yet about the house being sold and him having to move but have sent a letter (too frustrated getting the right answer when calling). How can my ex-wife be getting child benefits still if he is working 3 days a week?
I'm sure I'm not being told everything by my ex, possibly even my eldest, but not getting a straight answer from the CSA and them telling me that child benefit and my ex still getting it is none of their responsibility is also frustrating!
Any advise or explanation would help.
regards
Jase
Hi Jase
The CSA are correct in that if she's still receiving child benefit, then maintenance is still liable. It may be that his course includes work experience or some type of apprenticeship and - if there is more than (I think) 12 hours supervised study per week, then he's still classed as being in education.
However, if he's living with the grandmother, I would say that she should be claiming anyway - although if it all finishes in the next few months, it may not be worth the hassle of challenging it.
Thanks for the reply. I agree, and had read that if he was attending 12 (ish) hours a week, then she was still liable to getting that, my question was more about that being possible, if he is no longer living at home. He, or I should say, I am paying the CSA and that is covering his rent for the time being. I do believe that my ex helps with his food with the child benefits, but not sure to what degree as I dont like to ask. I was happy to pay his rent direct until the CSA told me that even though he was not living there, I would have to pay still.
Onto the Grandmother, Im not sure what you mean? He will move in with her, when the property he is in is sold, but I'm even more unsure that I should be paying while he is there, although does that still mean, my ex still continues to receive child benefit? What happens when College finishes in May/June? He is hoping to get on an apprenticeship, which I know wont mean 12 hours in the classroom, so where do Dads stand then? Now, dont get me wrong I have paid for him and his 2 brothers for the past 10 years, with the only issues of my ex thinking at times she was being done out of a penny often at her own loss, as she ended up each time with less than I was already giving, but the CSA have never advised and I have on numerous occasions questioned their decisions and had things changed.
Just with a few frustrating calls this past few weeks trying to get clarification going forward they have not given answers but skipped around the questions with if's and buts.
It might be worth having a word with the benefits agency - I don't think your ex should be claiming, but I think the grandmother can, and the maintenance would then follow the child benefit.
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