Child Maintenance (CSA) questions (merged)

rickrossi

I have always been given advice to keep records of payments given to ex partners for child maintenance.Is it really good advice?

My ex partner and I decided not to go through CSA. I gave her a lump sum payment of £32000 to help her and my daughter plus a monthly payment of £165/month. 6 months went by and I received a letter out of the blue from the CSA stating that my ex has applied to them for child maintenance and could I send all my details.

I told the CSA that I gave her the lump sum and monthly payments already. I was told that since the application from when I should be paying was received after I paid the lump sum, this money could not be taking into consideration.

I now have to pay an extra £65 per month. Are they correct in what they are saying? and if so does this mean that this advice I have been given to keep records no good.

Sorry to burden you all with my dilemma.Im just another responsible father getting ripped off and deprived of my daughters company by an ex partner.

building

I have read somewhere that if you are a divorced or separated father there is help available with the payment of maintenance for those on low incomes.
does anyone have any further information on this?
is this for people receiving income support and jobseekers allowance only?

helen21_2

I am not sure if that is right!!!!
Go to the CAB and get some advice, i am sure someone on here will be of more help! Good Luck to you anyway!
Always the dad's that are willing to pay get stiffed :mad:

helen

calleyw

building wrote:

I have read somewhere that if you are a divorced or separated father there is help available with the payment of maintenance for those on low incomes.
does anyone have any further information on this?
is this for people receiving income support and jobseekers allowance only?

Look here more info about how they calculate the payments.

Hope that helps.


Yours

Calley

StockportGerbil

Hi!
You do need to have a chat with the CAB sooner rather than later, but I think the CSA are right. They are solely interested in your income, what you have paid in maintainance for your child and how many nights a week you have her FROM THE POINT IN TIME YOU WERE REPORTED TO THEM. So up-front payments and previous agreements are ignored. Sorry. As your assessment is under the new scheme then the CSA will expect you to pay 15% of your take home income minus any additional pension contributions outside a works scheme. This contribution will drop by a seventh for each night per week you have your daughter.

When dealing with the CSA it is essential to keep copies of all correspondance as they have (in my experience and that of my partner) a well earned reputation for incompetence, which is always blamed on the computer. Similarly check the figures they use to calculate the maintainance.

Good luck

Kevin

rickrossi

Thanks for all the info. I think they have the figures correct, I just feel something doesnt seem right, at least morally if not legally.

I have now just received a bill for half the overpayment of child tax credit. Money that I have never seen or to be honest heard of up till now.It was an application in joint names. My ex will still be able to claim this money back anyway by re-applying herself. So she will be reclaiming half the bill ive already paid.

Where does it all end? I'm off to see the CAB this afternoon.

Prudent

I don't know where you stand with regard to the tax credit situations. I have had lengthy dealings with the CSA and also think the previous posts are correct : it is your take home income now that will be taken into consideration. I do agree that morally this doesn't seem fair. There is something in their literature about lump settlements but I think this relates to agreeements pre 1993. (Though I would need to double check that).

The CSA are very prone to making errors (and yes it is always blamed on the copmputer!), so check your assessment carefully.

rickrossi

I have been advised today by the CAB to challenge this lump sum payment and write back to the CSA. Get them to give an acceptable reason why this large amount of money is being dismissed without a second look and get back to CAB with their reply.

Letter will be in the post tomorrow

Murtle

Good luck, that is shocking. I really hope it turns out for the best for you.

x

Turning_into_scrooge

i feel this sounds very un fair. Yes i do agree that fathers should pay for their children but at least allow them to have a decent living at the same time. As well as that i cannot understand why mothers prevent their ex partners from having contact with their children when there is no negative reason to do so. After all its also punishing the children Yes there are cases where the father may be violent or the child really does not want to see him but i feel that a child has as much right to see their other parent. But thats just my opinion and i mean no offence to anyone who feels different