child support

by Helen Howard

child support | help and info

help and info

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organisations

Child Support Agency
PO Box 55
Brierley Hill DY5 1YL
National Enquiry Line: 08457 133 133 (Mon-Fri, 8am-8pm; Sat 9am-5pm)
Textphone: 08457 138 924
Website: www.csa.gov.uk
Assesses, collects and pays child support maintenance, ensuring that parents who live apart meet their financial responsibilities to their children. The National Enquiry Line of the Child Support Agency is a helpline dealing with general queries about child maintenance. The website has an extensive list of questions and answers, resources and links as well as contact details for its regional offices.

Northern Ireland Child Support Agency
Great Northern Tower
17 Great Victoria Street
Belfast BT2 7AD
Customer helpline: 0845 713 9896 (for existing scheme cases)
Customer helpline: 0845 608 022 (for new scheme cases)
Textphone: 084 5713 9704
E-mail: belfast-customer-service@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/csa.htm
Operates the child support scheme in Northern Ireland.

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Tel: 020 7833 2181 (admin only)
Website: www.adviceguide.org.uk or www.citizensadvice.org.uk
CAB volunteers provide free, confidential and independent advice on issues including debt, benefits and housing for people living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They can also offer guidance on legal matters concerning cohabiting couples, such as cohabitation contracts and child custody and property rights following separation or death. You can search the CAB website to find your nearest branch in England, Northern Ireland or Wales.

Citizens Advice Scotland
Tel: 0131 550 1000
Website: www.cas.org.uk
Advice site: www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland.htm/ ..
Provides the same resources and advice as the CAB, above, but for people living in Scotland.

websites

Department for Work and Pensions
www.dwp.gov.uk
Delivers support and advice to people of working age, employers, pensioners, families and children, and disabled people. Aims to enable people to become financially independent and help reduce child poverty.

Family Tax Credit
www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits
The Inland Revenue's guide to Family Tax Credit, including finding out if you are entitled to receive money from the government and, if so, how much and how to claim.

SureStart
www.surestart.gov.uk
SureStart is the government's programme to support children, parents and communities through the integration of early education, childcare and health and family support services.

(resources updated March 2006)

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