Me or CSA

[Sarak7]

Hi

When exactly do i let the father know he must pay child support?
OR
Does the CSA do that for you?
IF SO
Can they track him down?

[Veritas]

Your best bet is to make the claim via child support, taking all the worry out of your hands....

They will ask you to provide as much info re: the father, then it is up to them to track him down.... you can find out details of what info they require on their website....

[RaryGirl]

To receive any Centrelink payments they say you must lodge paperwork with Child Support Agency - so they gave me all the forms at the time. I can't remember whether they sent them off or I did.

CSA have to chase my ex all the time - he shifts and goes months without paying his $10 a month (oh doesn't that just buy soooooo very much to support DD).

To be honest I'm past caring now as my DD has a fantastic step-dad that she calls dad and he loves her like his own and when he introduces DD he always says "this is my daughter". As she says to me all the time "it takes more than genes to be a dad!" :yes:

[MeeG]

my DD has a fantastic step-dad that she calls dad and he loves her like his own and when he introduces DD he always says "this is my daughter". As she says to me all the time "it takes more than genes to be a dad!" :yes:[/quote]

thats really sweet it makes me so happy to hear that and gives hope that there are good guys out there YAY!!:thumbsup:

[Illusional]

When you apply for any government benefit .. ie: parenting payment single etc.. you will be required to apply for child support.. they will do this automatically for you once you sign the forms..
(theres a section on there asking for fathers details etc - Child Support Agency will contact you if you dont know exact details for the father)
If you wish to do a 'private collection of a specified amount (organised between you and you ex/partner) you need to tell either centrelink or child support agency at this time.

If you dont apply for Child Support - you will be granted the base rate of any benefits that you app-ly for until the matter is rectified.

You can be granted an 'exemption' of applying for maintenance if you have good reason for not wanting to apply.. ie: domestic violence (as in your ex/partner has threatened you if you decide to apply)

[talon]

You can phone CSA to discuss your options if you are a little concerned about what will happen. Registering a case with CSA may be necessary for you to claim the maximum amount of FTB payment.

You can make your case "private" or "collect". CSA "collect" means that CSA will handle your case so that you do not need to contact the father of your child for payments etc. This means that he will have to pay the money to CSA who will then pay the money to you into your bank account or as a cheque each month.

If you make your case "private" this means that CSA assumes that the father is paying you child support correctly and do not monitor the payments made.

If you are worried that trying to get payments off the father is going to be a problem then I suggest you make your case collectable through the Agency. They have avenues available to enforce collection if possible if he refuses to pay voluntarily.

Also, proof of paternity is needed to start a case with CSA. The most straightforward way of providing this is through the birth certificate with the fathers name on it. Other then that, a paternity test would be needed which the suspected father can refuse to do. If this happens you will need to obtain a court order which orders him to have the test done. You then need to return to court with the result and get a court document that states who the father is based on the paternity test result.

Check out the CSA website - it will provide all this information in more detail for you.

HTH. :)

ADDED - just wanted to answer your question a bit more directly...


When exactly do i let the father know he must pay child support?
OR
Does the CSA do that for you?

CSA will contact the father to discuss the child support case. You do not have to do this yourself. They will handle it. They will usually phone him to gain his details etc. and if they are unable to contact him by phone, they will send out a letter.

IF SO
Can they track him down?

Yes, generally they can. They have access to certain search functions and other agencies who are able to provide information about the fathers whereabouts etc. They will also ask this information of you when you register a child support case to assist them with contacting him.

[KaM]

When I went into Centrelink to organise my Parenting payment etc . .they gave me a piece of paper with CSA's number on it and I had to ring them and lodge a claim via the phone . .they asked heaps of questions then I got about a million more because Matilda's father is in the USA and that country requires a lot of info . .im talking the sort of thing where they asked me hair color eye color. .tattoos. . anything and everything to help them track him down . .they did . .because he told me . .but to this date . .and its been 3 mths now. .i still havent received a thing . .though . .i dont really miss the whole $26 they want out of him . .I mean . .cmon . .$26 . . whats that going to get me . . .barely nappies for 2 weels. . governments can make you laugh sometimes. .seriously . .

[Deity]

My ex has to pay an astounding $21 per month - what an enormous help that is! I can't think of anything I buy a week that cost $5 for Charlotte. What are they thinking????