Grimsby children owed more than £11m in maintenance payments
ARE you owed child support?
That is the question we are asking today as it was revealed that Grimsby topped a national league table of shame of unpaid child maintenance.
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Figures show that children in the Great Grimsby constituency are owed a staggering £11,069,000 of a national child support debt mountain of £3,761-million
The second worst offender on the top 20 list was Milton Keynes South West, with a £10,495,000 debt.
The table also shows that absent parents in East Hull owe £10,044,000 and £9,559,000 in West Hull and Hessle.
Chief Executive of single parent charity Gingerbread, Fiona Weir said: "Child maintenance is vital for children in separated families.
"This is much-needed money which pays for items such as children's clothes, school meals, trips and activities and childcare.
"Ultimately the responsibility for paying child maintenance rests with the non-resident parent, but the Child Support Agency has to do its job too in collecting debts and enforcing payment. We want to help single parents caring for children take action to ensure their arrears are paid.
Are you owed child support? Leave your comment here, call our newsdesk on 01472 372213 or email newsdesk@grimsbytelegraph.co.uk
See tomorrow's Grimsby Telegraph for a more indepth look at the situation.
31 Comments
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by Micky, Grimsby
Monday, July 19 2010, 5:31PM
“I also resent the assumption that this is about young girls getting pregnant.
I was married and had two children our marriage broke down and I left. I have always worked to provide for the children and haven't claimed benefits other than a little bit of Tax Credit that I get each week.
I have never stopped my husband from seeing the children, that is not my right. He has done nothing wrong to them and has as much right to see them as I do, whether he pays for their upkeep or not. That is another issue. You can't make your children's father pay to see them, that teaches them the wrong things. But that's another issue.
He did pay some maintanance for a couple of months then decided he had better things to spend his money on as is often the case. I contacted the CSA who told me after about 6 months that the case had been closed as their correspondence to him had been returned marked "not known at this address". I'd provided all details to the CSA including my ex husband's NI number and works payroll number - included full details of his employer etc. I don't know his address anymore as he lives in a different town and won't igive us the address to avoid the CSA, but he does visit the kids still (12 years on) and does sometimes give them a few quid. The CSA won't pursue the case.
I've had to struggle for 12 years but I don't mind, they are my children and I'll do what I have to, but I do resent him not having contributed to their upbringing.
I feel sorry for him as the children don't really have any respect for him and they are all too aware of the differences in terms of committment to them that myself and their father demonstrated. I'm happy with what I've done now they are almost adults, sadly he's not feeling as happy with what he's done, but it's too late now to try to make it up.
Unfortunately you reap what you sow, but there are so many people out there who really don't care. They don't care about their children and note I say people not fathers, but also mothers. Nothing will make them take an interest in their children or contribute to their upbringing in anyway. The best thing for the kids is to stop trying to force parents who have opted out to be invovled. Just get on with life best you can and do what you know is right.
On another note - Accidentally getting someone pregnant is a risk you take when you don't use contraception - by that I mean take responsibility for yourself using contraception not relying on the say so of someone else. Accidents should be parented and paid for as well, there's no escape clause signed upto when you have sex with someone.”
by Brian, Mansfield
Monday, July 19 2010, 12:57PM
“I have always refused to pay maintrenence via the CSA because I disagree with a percentage of it going to the children that they cannot collect payments for and for the wages of the CSA staff.
When I pay maintence, 100% of it goes directly to where I want it to make the difference, MY SON. I also buy his clothes, give him pocket money AND give his mother money to go towards his upkeep.
If you're not prepared to pay for your childs upkeep, use contraception. You do not deserve to be called a Father if you cannot or will not contribute.”
by a, gy
Saturday, July 17 2010, 6:13PM
“i receive 5.00 a month child support from my ex because he does not work i was told by tax credits that they dont take in to account maintanence payments when working out how much you get so some one who gets 400 pounds a month child maintanence gets the same tax credits as me who gets hardly any maintanence huuh”
by a, gy
Saturday, July 17 2010, 6:11PM
“i receive 5.00 a month child support from my ex because he does not work i was told by tax credits that they dont take in to account maintanence payments when working out how much you get so some one who gets 400 pounds a month child maintanence gets the same tax credits as me who gets hardly any maintanence huuh”
by Anon, GY
Friday, July 16 2010, 8:41PM
“Andyvon, Aylesbury
Just want to point out that this is not always the case!! I was a young mum and yeas i'm not with the father anymore but do not refuse to let him see his children. Also i have never once been on benifits i have managed to work full time whilst being a single mother and i'm now back at college training to be a nurse. My children do not miss out on any birthday and christmas presents and never want for nothing. Please do not assume that just because some girls have children young and do not give them a good upbringing that every teenage mother is like that.”