Mother loses son because of CSA

I write this testimonial as the mother of a son who took his own life because of the Child Support Agency. I was not asked to write it but we feel we need to tell our story in order to help others.

I write this testimonial as the mother of a son who took his own life because of life’s pressures, including those placed upon him from the Child Support Agency. I was not asked to write it but we feel we need to tell our story in order to help others.

13 Months ago my son Kevin was found dead in his bedroom. Kevin separated from his wife 10 years ago, the separation was very bad and Kevin was not allowed to see the children. I accept that at the time Kevin was having lots of problems and he was not in the right frame of mind to see the children.

For whatever reason he decided to he would bury his head in the sand when it came to paying his CSA but was then told to pay £136.45 per week Over the last 10 years he joined many forums looking for ways to avoid paying his child support because he couldn’t afford this and didn’t believe it was right. It always ended up him thinking he had found the answer and always burying his head even more.

His father and I have been very worried about his anger toward the CSA for a number of years and we both felt it was wrong of him not to pay his CSA. Even after his death we received a letter saying that he owed £64,000.00 arrears in CSA payments to come out of his estate. We went to our MP who gave me Mr Smith’s name from Durham Legal Services. Mr Smith came to see us at our home and after talking to the CSA and sending them some details the £64,000.00 arrears has now been written off. Kevin’s weekly payment had always been a penalty payment which no one understood. Thank you Mr Smith from the bottom of both our hearts

Yesterday I attended Kevin’s inquest and the Coroner said that had he obtained the correct advice over the years thing might have been different for him. As a mother I want to tell everyone out there that you must get real advice about the CSA, don’t bury your heads as I want no one else to cry the tears I have cried