Letter from a single mum

Yet another triumph planned for "fathers" who don't wish to support their children. I've been trying to get divorced since Sept 2010 and although I have legal aid it still costs me £69.80 per month for at least 3yrs maybe longer as his refusal to co-operate with my solicitor is increasing my costs, he's not using any legal advice prefering for me to finance the divorce. After 9 months of no fininacial help I went to CSA ( I should start to receive payments in Jan 2012) and have had to request they collect the money so now Mr Cameron wants me to fund that as well on my £12k annual salary against my husbands £36k annual salary. On top of this the caring fathers response to my going to the CSA was to reduce the mortgage payments to £130 per month covering the interest only, in spite of his living in the property, I live with the children in a rented house costing me £525 per month . Yet I'm the one the bank phone 2-3 times a day because he doesn't answer the phone so they can't contact him. Surprise surprise he's a civil servant who joined the strike over his pension fund. So yet again the parasites get rewarded while the rest of us battle on.

It is utterly disgrace that David Cameron’s so-called coalition government can even consider such proposal – Charging children for using CSA service!!! Since April 2010, that the Children Maintenance payment has been disregarded in the assessment of income for CTC & other state benefits, which is a favourable result to many lone parents as I believe, the majority of the recipients of CM are on low income and many of them rely on certain state benefits to ensure the best possible way to bring up their children on their own. I am one of them and ever since I have planned a better future for my son (who is only 18 month) once I start working again as I would have this additional income from his biological father (he should not be called “dad” as he has never met or wanted to know my son since he was born). However, this joyful news did not last long until this dreadful proposal was announced! It really makes me wonder what planet those ministers or their advisors come from!!! “Will a millionaire claimant goes to use CSA to pursue their children maintenance?” If we are as adults, who can reach an agreement amicably with the absent father, are we insane (or bother to) use the CSA?? No, of course not!!! Therefore, putting such proposal forward, (surprisingly it went through the house of common!) was really a better way to help children out of poverty? Or is this merely another cost-cutting exercise from the government – Targeting the most vulnerable peoples as they are already low and down! Then what kind of the society that we are all living in??? This might explain why the summer riot happened! Even though I am receiving state benefits at the moment, however, I had always worked until I was in my late pregnancy with my son (as my son’s biological father asked me to be out of his house if I didn’t abort my child). I had always paid my taxes and made contributions towards this society, now I need some help from the government through using the CSA, then they might consider charging me up to 12% in fees! I believe that the majority of taxpayers would rather have their taxes money paying to help the vulnerable than give to the MPs (who fiddle with their expenses claims) and those bankers (who still receive distortional amount of bonus after the government bailed them out)!

I was unaware that the government are proposing to do this until I read this letter. I think it's disgusting that us single parents have to foot the bill to use the CSA. At the rates proposed I would only end up receiving £8 a month as the majority of the money will be taken by the rates I would have to pay for use of the service. I only receive £126 per month for 2 children as it is now. It's disgraceful to say the least. Then add on top the fact that I can't get any help with costs of going to college as the government have changed the rules from Sep 2011. I think Mr Cameron is just attacking the more vulnerable people in society to make his "savings"