Child Support Agency - You disagree with the Child Support Agency's assessment of your maintenance payment, or think they have handled your case badly.

Maintenance payment:

Write to your local Child Support Agency (CSA) giving reasons why you feel the assessment is incorrect. The decision-maker can look at your case again and either correct any mistakes that may have occurred or explain to you why certain decisions have been made. You have a statutory right to request a review by a different child support officer.

If the CSA refuses to review your case or your case is rejected in the review, you can appeal to the CSA central appeals unit: Child Support Agency, Central Appeals Unit, R Block, Government Buildings, Lytham St. Anne's FY1 1GJ.
- The unit decides whether to accept your appeal and may forward it to the appeals service for consideration.
- If your application is accepted the appeals service will set up an independent tribunal to hear your case.
- You must appeal within one month of receiving the CSA's decision letter.

If the CSA appeals unit refuses your leave to appeal you can take your case to the child support commissioner: Harp House, 83 Farringdon Street, London EC4A 4DH (Tel: 020 7353 5145 or 020 7454 4200; Fax: 020 7947 2171)
- The commissioner can grant or refuse leave to appeal on the basis of documents relating to your case.

Maladministration:

If you are unhappy about the CSA's service you should first write to the customer service manager at the office you are dealing with.

If you are unhappy with their response write to the chief executive at the following address: Chief Executive, Child Support Agency, DSS Longbenton, Newcastle upon Tyne NE98 1YX.

If you are still dissatisfied with the response from the chief executive or someone responding on their behalf, you can complain to the independent case examiner: PO Box 155, Chester, CH99 9SA
- The examiner deals with complaints about the way that the CSA has handled your case, including issues such as long delays, mistakes or impolite staff.
- Write within 6 months of receiving a response from the chief executive of the CSA.

If you think the appeal tribunal's decision is wrong on a point of law you can appeal to the social security commissioner.

In cases of maladministration you can ask your MP to put your complaint to the parliamentary ombudsman.

You can appeal against decisions on how your child maintenance has been calculated. You cannot appeal against how the maintenance is to be paid