Can the government claim child support payments if neither parents have put in a claim?

The Child Support Agency only request payments etc. for a child, if someone has requested their assistance for a child you have fathered. They do not hold records etc. unless someone has contacted them direct.

If you have paid maintenance to the mother direct and have proof of this, or have paid the child support agency the money on the bill, you have to call them and prove that you already support the child, or get a refund from them.

Makesure that its for the child in question and no ex or old partner is trying to pull a fast one over you.

If the mother has made any sort of application for government assistance, like welfare, subsidized housing or day care, the government is likely going after you for support to recoup any monies they have paid out on the mother and child's behalf.

EDIT: Have either one of you put in to finalize a divorce? Recent case law that is acknowledged in most common law countries now states that a divorce can not be put through until a child support order is in place if there are children of the marriage.

If she gets ANY type of benefits [other than child allowance] then they would have asked her time and time again who the father is, at one point they used to state that the mother would lose money if she did not give up the name of the father [or who she thought was the father] So IF she has applied for any type of means tested benefit then they will pretty much automatically file a CSA at the same time.

What I find odd is that by sending you a bill it appears that it has been to court etc etc and that they have seen what you earn and what she earns and come to this amount SO with that in mind I would contact them and ask for a face to face meeting to get this established as to how much you are meant to pay etc etc and WHY has the bleep amount you already pay her each week [and PLEASE tell me you keep receipts of this] has NOT been taken into account.

If this was the US, I'd make the assumption that the government is filing to recoup money collected by the mother from public assistance.. I admit I don't know if Britain does this as well, but it's been standard procedure in the US for years. Does the UK object to men not supporting their childrena dn leaving it to the welfare system?