History of the CSA
The CSA when originally launched gained somewhat of a poor reputation as parents no longer living with their children ("absent parent") were receiving major changes to maintenance payments as well as parents where children were still living with them ("the parent with care") were being forced to apply for maintenance payments from their ex-spouses. Lobbying and protest came from many quarters and as a result the Child Support Act 1996 came into place which made a number of changes with regard to the formulae used for calculating maintenance and having to take other expenditure into account such as previous clean-break settlements and secondary home costs etc.
How does the CSA work?
The CSA has responsibility for child support and has the power to access both the Department for Work and Pensions and H M Revenue and Customs records.
If you are the parent with care and you require some form of income support from the Benefits agency, tax credits, disability working allowance or job seekers allowance then the CSA will become involved and seek your permission for the absent parent to be approached for a contribution. The CSA is solely involved with the assessment of income for regular maintenance payments and does not get involved in the assessment of lump sum or property claims.
Who can apply?
Both absent parents and parents with care are able to apply directly to the CSA for an assessment. It is more normal for the parent with care to apply.
How do you apply?
You apply by completing a maintenance application form (MAF) which will require a full disclosure of your financial position. Upon receipt the CSA will issue a maintenance enquiry form to the potential payer of the maintenance, again requiring a full financial disclosure. If this is returned promptly there may be a concession of a short "holiday" period where no maintenance is payable by the absent parent, this is normally eight weeks.
I do not wish the CSA to be involved
If financial assistance is required or given as a result of income support, family credit or other similar method detailed above you may have no choice. If you seek financial assistance from the Benefits agency and choose not to name the potentially liable person for the CSA to assess then the Benefits agency may reduce your benefits. People not using or requiring benefits have the option of either using the Agency or making private arrangements via a maintenance agreement.
More information
Further details can be found by either telephoning the CSA help line on 08457 133 133 or visiting their web site dwp.gov.uk/csa