Child Maintenance (CSA) questions (merged)

kelloggs36

And you do a fab job I'm sure! It is possible to ask the CSA to refer the case to their Fraud investigation team to investigate her earnings - can't guarantee there will be a result but if you feel that strongly (and I would, but that's just me) it is a possiblity.

kelloggs36

It is also unfair that any new children in the NRP's household (and even worse IMO) including children WHO THE NRP HAS NO LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR get a larger proportion allowed to them then the children left behind. In the old system, there was only an allowance under the final part of the calculation, as it was assumed that children who were brought into the NRP's household should be maintained by their own parents. This has been reversed, so existing children are pushed aside in favour of new children. IMO existing children should come first EXCEPT where it can be proven that the new children CANNOT be maintained by their natural parent because they are dead - not because the other parent does not wish to claim maintenance.

loftus

kelloggs36 wrote:

It is also unfair that any new children in the NRP's household (and even worse IMO) including children WHO THE NRP HAS NO LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR get a larger proportion allowed to them then the children left behind. In the old system, there was only an allowance under the final part of the calculation, as it was assumed that children who were brought into the NRP's household should be maintained by their own parents. This has been reversed, so existing children are pushed aside in favour of new children. IMO existing children should come first EXCEPT where it can be proven that the new children CANNOT be maintained by their natural parent because they are dead - not because the other parent does not wish to claim maintenance.

Sorry Kelloggs - I know you know far more about the CSA than I do but I thought the reductions in CM for new children were 15%, 20% and 25% for 1,2,3 or more new or step-children. How does this equate to them getting more than existing children leaving as it does 85%-75% of CM being paid?

Anyway its an imperfect system and whatever replaces it will also be imperfect.

vippymini

ive been chasing foe nearly 8 years and i found him , told the csa where he is , they found him and i never saw a penny as hes on benifits they cant deduct from.

Last time ispoke to them about 8 mths ago hes split up with the girl he married after me and shes chasing him to and i was told hes living with someone else..

Do you think i should chase it up again?

scottydee

My first post,so forgive me if I'm repeating anything.

I've been paying CSA for a number of years, I've complained, had ICE involved, but on the whole, I've complied.

I'm due for a hike in my payments, but to make them, I'll have to work overtime!

Does this mean that next years figure will be higher, just because I worked over to make up the shortfall created by the CSA?

Also, My partners kids live with us, we get tax credit which the CSA take into account as part of MY income - how unfair is that?!!!!!

vippymini

ok i just chased mine up , there is another case, and found out hes been of benits since end of 2005 so they are going to hunt him down again

lebly

unfortunatley they will. Dont you have to produce a certain number of pay slips to prove income?

I know of people in the same situation who have worked a few months without and used thouse payslips as evidence then worked overtime on the rest!

System

The children are 7 and 9 (10 in April). We have been told that in our area there is a very good team which my brother and SIL will have to meet with before they set foot inside the court and if they manage to stall things until April then the eldest child will be sympathetically asked what his preferences would be regarding seeing his father. He currently thinks he will be spending a week with his mother and then a week with his father though neither parents have discussed contact with the children yet.

Lameduck do you mind if I ask was it expensive having to go to court each time during your fight for contact and then custody? My brother isn't made of money but he is determined to do his utmost so that when the kids grow up they will know he didn't abandon them or give up without a fight.

thesaint

The court system may be different in N Ireland, but in England you don't have to meet before court. My son is younger than your brother's and was asked what he wantedby the CAFCASS officer, this is not really given much credence at that sort of age.

I went against the 'Usual weekend father' that was offered by my ex and supported by the CAFCASS officer. I was therefore not entitled to legal aid and paid just under £1000 to take it to conclusion. I paid a bit extra because a got rid of my solicitor and retained a Barrister to represent me at court £400 for half a day in court:eek: .

It is not necessary to have legal representation, and would do it myself next time if I had to, but it has worked quite smoothly in the main.

scottydee

I produced wage slips last year (april) but they lost them, and amongst other delays, have now just asked my wages dept for year to date figures!

Their service is horrendous. It's having quite an affect on my relationship too.