My children's father has only paid £5 a week for both children for the last 2 years (they are age 6 and 4).
He has said he wouldn't pay any if he could get away with it.
The money is deducted directly from his job seekers allowance. He has not been in employment for around 25 years, instead has always sold goods online, auction sites, etc. whilst claiming benefits, some fraudulent as he is perfectly physically, mentally, emotionally capable yet has somehow fiddled the disability allowance or whatever it is called :/
He makes a considerable income from this, selling anything from specialist electronics, car parts from classic cars he strips down to re-sell, and from police auctions, etc. but because he is a Hoarder, he has said he can get away with it by stating that he is just selling his own personal goods.
Which any investigation would have a hard time proving otherwise! He really is the sort of hoarder that piles items floor to ceiling with 5" walkways through rooms, and he has been living in his attic with no running hot water or cooking facilities for the last few years because he's run out of room. He refuses to install heating or hot water as he doesn't wash amd sleeps fully clothed in his sleepong bag on cold nights, so dont feel too sorry for him! I was going to correct that 'sleepong' to 'sleeping', but it's probably appropriate :D
I have struggled financially for the last 6 years on benefits, to the point of considering bankruptcy recently, and have also been evicted for rent arrears previously. Yes, bad budgeting, no, I have ever had sky tele, catalogue debts, don't smoke, drink, socialise, etc. just have not grown out of the habit of buying lovely Joules and Boden stuff for my children whilst unemployed and much of my benefit income for the last few years has had utility bills and rent arrears deducted at source,before it goes into my
bank.
Several times in the last few months my bank a/c has been at Nil. Literally. I can't get an overdraft on benefits.
So, I think it is time to ask their father for a bigger contribution. It was never my intention, I came from a DV relationship and fled when my youngest was just 4 weeks old so I have always known suggesting to him he can afford to help more would be stirring up a hornet's nest. His favourite phrase has always been, 'let the taxpayers fund you whilst you sit on your fat arse'. He really has no conscience about fiddling the system or helping to financially raise his own children. He also hasn't seen them for over a year.
But from what I read about the CSA they are hopeless so it may be a waste of time.
Considering he already has alibis for how he earns his income online (ie, he's just selling his own stuff so doesn't have to declare his income to the benefits people) it might note worth incurring his wrath over it. I doubt if sending the CSA a link to his current online auctions is any help as knowing how he's run it in the past, he'll be using a fake name and his friend's address, although presumably his Paypal will be linked to one of his bank accounts (he has two, one for benefits, one for sales).
We have been communicating through the auction site's messaging service recently so there's evidence therein he is their father as we are talking about them.
I am due to return to work this Autumn when youngest starts Reception. This was always my intention. I think I will need a little more financial assistance from their father then. Does it sound unreasonable?
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Where do I begin with a CSA claim?
7 replies
Flyingtree · 10/07/2013 19:25
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