CSA payment change for unemployment

highlandgurl

My fiance makes payments monthly to the CSA but has recently found himself out of work due to the 'credit crunch'. He phoned the CSA and told them and was told by the person he spoke to that they would "pass on the message". We have followed this up with a recorded delivery letter to them stating he is unemployed and claiming JSA. What i'm wondering is:

1. Should we have requested a reassessment due to him being unemployed rather than just advising that he was (and assuming they will now adjust his payments automatically) ie. should we have said 'Mr X is now unemployed and claiming JSA, please reassess his payments' rather than just 'Mr X is now unemployed and claiming JSA'?

2. How long does it take for the payment adjustments to be made. His next payment is due in February and we wont be able to afford it so what do we do if he hasnt heard anything back from them by then? pay it and suffer debt elsewhere or dont pay and risk arrears?

Thanks

beanys

Hi there
i was in the same situation 2 years ago i rang the CSA told them i had no job and i cancell my standing order to them, 1 month later got a form to fill in to say i was on Jsa 2 weeks later got a letter back stating i must pay £5 a week 6 months down the line i got a job, and 2 weeks after the job i was paying the original amount , then i got phone call saying i owed £2000 in back payment :mad: from the date i stopped paying ,till i resumed paying them again , so be aware even if you are out of work u still have to pay the full amount every month :mad: :mad: , so dont worry about feb payment just stop it as in the end you have to pay it all back .
hopefully this gives you a rough idea what happends
beanys

catsnfings

I would say a definite yes to your first question. My experience with CSA is they will find any way to get out of doing something and generally be as unhelpful. Another phone call to ensure they have got the message is not going to lose you anything. Make sure that they received the letter and re-assess from the date stated.

For the second question again I can only say getting anything done by them takes forever so who knows how long the payment change will take but if they put you into arrears then as long as you have the proof of notification with the date of change then they would surely have to adjust it back again. I would however pay what you can afford - maybe half the amount due?? so that the child doesn't suffer. Only my opinion tho - other people will probably say differently.

Donedoingdebt

beanys wrote: »

Hi there
i was in the same situation 2 years ago i rang the CSA told them i had no job and i cancell my standing order to them, 1 month later got a form to fill in to say i was on Jsa 2 weeks later got a letter back stating i must pay £5 a week 6 months down the line i got a job, and 2 weeks after the job i was paying the original amount , then i got phone call saying i owed £2000 in back payment :mad: from the date i stopped paying ,till i resumed paying them again , so be aware even if you are out of work u still have to pay the full amount every month :mad: :mad: , so dont worry about feb payment just stop it as in the end you have to pay it all back .
hopefully this gives you a rough idea what happends
beanys

Surely that can't be right.
If you're not earning, how can they keep on adding up the amount owed based on an out of date assessment?

shock222

Donedoingdebt wrote: »

Surely that can't be right.
If you're not earning, how can they keep on adding up the amount owed based on an out of date assessment?

i thought the same can anbody clarify this point

marksoton

It should not have happened and assuming the poster did inform the agency of the change no arrears would exist.

The poster should complain.

beanys

because they are still paying for the child and thats means u have to make up any arrears
i spent many hours on the phone sorting this out
trust me there is no way out of it,i even went to the cab and they could not help ,CSA are a law to them self they dont give a f$%*k about us as long as they get there money of you :mad: :mad:

marksoton

beanys wrote: »

because they are still paying for the child and thats means u have to make up any arrears
i spent many hours on the phone sorting this out
trust me there is no way out of it,i even went to the cab and they could not help ,CSA are a law to them self they dont give a f$%*k about us as long as they get there money of you :mad: :mad:

Incorrect. If you correctly informed them of the the change in circumstance and were on JSA you were only liable for £5 a week ( now £7 ) that would come out of your benefit.

laurenjs88

marksoton wrote: »

Incorrect. If you correctly informed them of the the change in circumstance and were on JSA you were only liable for £5 a week ( now £7 ) that would come out of your benefit.

When did it go upto £7 a week?

marksoton

The CMEC legislation that came in last year increased the amount. I assume all NRP's that now newly claim JSA etc are having this higher rate deducted. N71 or similar may be able to confirm.

laurenjs88

mmm, ok well my Ex is back on Incap and only has to pay £2.50 to my DD & £2.50 to other DD we've just got the claim through days ago. Might be worth checking that out and ringing them up again!