don't do a private agreeement with DV involved hun - it's just not worth it! he might say he's going to pay x amount but then decide it's too much effort and use intimidation against you. you only have to apply within 13 weeks of seperation, so given the age of your bubba you still have a window of time - given your stuff is still at his place and there is a chance of retribution wait til after that three weeks and apply then - he doesn't have to be PAYING within 13 weeks, you simply have to have APPLIED within that time.

you don't need to speak to FAO at all - just ring CSA (sorry, no idea of the number) and tell them you want to apply. they'll go through some details of your current financial situation, any shared care arrangements etc. then ask them to contact FAO (they'll transfer you) to provide them with your case number - that gets uploaded on the system and then the FAO and CSA systems link up and you dont' have to do anything more. CSA will contact your ex and follow up from there. they will be the only ones to have contact with him. if he says anything to you, simply say you need CSA to do all the chasing up and collecting so that you get paid FTB properly - unless he's really going to go looking, he won't know about private arrangements and collections

given his income, you'll probably find that his assessment will be less than the threshold to impact your FTB - so whatever he gives you will be above what you're getting now (please note i said probably - it goes on pre-tax income and things - and it's hard to know exactly what it would be)

hope that helps

BG