“I have expended all my energy attempting to get the CSA to obtain maintenance payments for me. I feel excluded from the process. I have been repeatedly told the dispute is between the CSA and my former husband and does not involve me. I have been repeatedly refused information concerning (my former husband) on the grounds that I have no right to this information. I believe I would not have received a fraction of the payments and compensation that has been made”.
“The combined effect of reduced income and stress involved in trying to obtain payments from the CSA has seriously affected my family life. I believe that if I had been allowed direct access to the courts to obtain maintenance I would have been successful. The Child Support Act’s prohibition on me taking independent action through the courts has left me powerless. My only remedy is to constantly pressurise the CSA which takes no real responsibility for ensuring maintenance is paid and for whom I am just a nuisance”
Mary Kehoe
Court of Appeal Case
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v Kehoe EWCA 2004 Civ 225
“Not being a party to the proceedings in the Magistrates Court the mother has no right of appeal against the justices order. Her position may be unjustly affected and there is nothing she can do about it”
Lord Justice Ward
Secretary of State v Kehoe as above
“A muddle it is… it is appalling to think that effective date for the assessment in this case is September 2001 and that three years later we are no nearer making it. This family has suffered from that delay and this uncertainty… It is another stain on the Child Support Agency’s reputation”
Lord Justice Ward
Smith v Smith and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 2004 ECWA Civ 13.8
At Child Support Action we believe that there are steps which can be taken to hold the CSA to account.
This website sets out the procedures available: -
To ask for a review
To complain
To ask for a Special Payment from the CSA
To appeal
To take legal action against the CSA
There are encouraging legal developments.
Mary Kehoe has been given permission to take her case to the House of Lords.
Alison Davies has commenced court action against the CSA to hold them responsible for the financial loss caused by their admitted mistakes (The Times 28 November 2004).
Saturday 6 September 2008
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