single dad

hello new to the forum
i am a single parent have a 4 year old boy my wife died when he was born.
the problem i have is i have a kid to a ex.iam trying to go back to work full time but every spare money i get the csa take off me i no i should pay just every other single parent gets csa but i don get it and have to pay it to. so i can only work part time just seams unfair to take money off us when i am strugling to feed my son .any advice?

Hallo Jake

Are you claiming all the benefits you can? Have you told the CSA that you are struggling?

Will the situation be improved once your child starts fulltime school?

i have tried with the csa like talking to a computer. i do cliam all i can. did go back to work full time was 80 pound better off but csa took most of it been to my lone parent adviser at jobcentre no help there. not that i dont want to pay just that i cant. my son is at full time school now

I am not any good at this area - have you tried the Citizens' Advice Bureau?

Hi Jake

WELCOME

Have you tried to claim for any widowers benefits and widowed parent benefits .

It may be worth while looking into these benefits if you havet already .

You also may be able to get means-tested benefits .

If you do not have much money coming in and you meet the other qualifying conditions.

For example, you may be entitled to Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit,

Working Tax Credit does include some help towards childcare.

Jake you are doing a great job and i want to say well done you and try not to worry too much .

Things will get easier and money wont always be as tight as it seems to be at this moment in time .

Some times we do struggle until our children go to school even if we are in a relationship or are married or single .

It is hard as a single parent to find a job that fits around the children not so much in school time but at weekends and school holidays what with the cost of child care but working tax credit pays a bit for that .

By working you should be a lot better off financially in most circumstances .

But things do improve money wise some times it takes time I no that I am not in your position
But i do understand not always having enough money especially when there are children to be taken care of . .

And the CSA should only be taking 15 % of your wage for one child and if you claim benefits i think they take even less

Talk to your local CAB and take every thing you claim with you .

Tell them your circumstances ask them what other benefits or entitlements you may be able to claim for .

good luck

Dido xx


Ps Jake let us know how you get on and what advice help ect you were given as this might help another person in similar position to your self in the future

I am very sorry but I don't think there is anything you can do in these circumstances other than appeal to the good nature of the mother in whose favour you pay child support.

The CSA rules allow for variations to CM and, for example, it may be reduced if the the non resident has expenses related to a child's disability. Unfortunately there is no variation covering your particular situation and the current rules don't allow for discretion.

All I can suggest is speaking to your MP and lobbying to change the law.

I thought that their was also a rule that CSA amounts were reduced if you had dependent children from a new family (inc step children) look online to see how it is supposed to work but there is definately a mechanism for reducing the amount