How can we get assessed under new rules?

karen69_2

Hi guys. We're in REAL trouble at the moment and the CSA payments are crippling us. We are assessed under the OLD rules where they reckon the ex needs 50% of our 'disposable' income! Since when is income disposable (lol)?

Anyway - I gave up work three years ago when we had a child so became totally dependant on my husbands wages for the three of us. I'm old fashioned and believe I'm doing the best by my daughter in not working right now.

Meanwhile - ex wife is working full-time, has a new fella who is working full-time and he moved in with her and rented his house out - they are loaded! Three incomes and no mortgage on her house (it was my hubby's but it got signed over with the divorce!)

We are gradually sinking into debt while it seems they are laughing at us! We asked her to consider requesting our re-assessment under the new rules but, when she phoned CSA, they told her not to because she would get less money! She then made sarcastic comments to us about her 'standard of living'!

I don't know how the CSA are allowed to continue with this two-tier system. We have spoken to our MP who 'sympathises'! We have even considered emigrating!

I love my step-daughter very much and don't begrudge her anything but I resent this situation and the pressure it is putting on our family and relationships.

PLEASE does anyone know how to get onto the new system without the ex having to instigate it?

mick6177

Not legally - The only way to get onto CS2 from CS1 is for another person to put in a claim against your husband and even then there would be phasing for your husbands ex which would mean that her amount would only drop by about £5pm until it reaches the CS2 level against 2 children, which could take along time. I really feel for you as i have been on CS1 for the last 13 years, and for 1 child pay so so much, my time of paying is nearly up and that is all I have to look forward too. CS3 comes in 2011 using Gross P60 pay figures 2010/2011 and then you would have to wait a possible further 3 years before you were converted to it. and thats the closes thing you are going to get to it. Oh and if you are converted to CS3 the QC age goes up to 20 years...Dont it just kick you so much.
The only thing you can do is work out how long you have left to pay and then live for that day.I ve been to debt and back with my new family so I really mean it, I feel for you.
Make sure you are getting all the allowances - child etc, and ask for a reassement, and then go for a variation on the grounds that her new partner can contribute to housing costs etc, just make sure that in you own head you are paying the "correct" amount, that way its not such a bitter pill.

marksoton

mick6177 wrote: »

Not legally - The only way to get onto CS2 from CS1 is for another person to put in a claim against your husband and even then there would be phasing for your husbands ex which would mean that her amount would only drop by about £5pm until it reaches the CS2 level against 2 children, which could take along time. I really feel for you as i have been on CS1 for the last 13 years, and for 1 child pay so so much, my time of paying is nearly up and that is all I have to look forward too. CS3 comes in 2011 using Gross P60 pay figures 2010/2011 and then you would have to wait a possible further 3 years before you were converted to it. and thats the closes thing you are going to get to it. Oh and if you are converted to CS3 the QC age goes up to 20 years...Dont it just kick you so much.
The only thing you can do is work out how long you have left to pay and then live for that day.I ve been to debt and back with my new family so I really mean it, I feel for you.
Make sure you are getting all the allowances - child etc, and ask for a reassement, and then go for a variation on the grounds that her new partner can contribute to housing costs etc, just make sure that in you own head you are paying the "correct" amount, that way its not such a bitter pill.

Unfortunately it is even worse than that. It is £5 per year !

An utter disgrace of a system.

chriszzz

Its obvious by reading the threads on csa, that it is causing some to live in despair and yes!! sometimes the ex who is recieving csa has a boyfriend moved in who is also contributing to the family household.
My partners ex is financially doing very well!! Since she met her new boyfriend, they have bought a four bed-roomed house, both have expensive cars, she only works part-time , she and the boyfriend go on holidays, they have never took the children on holiday.
After csa take there money out of my partners wages, it does not leave him enough to live on if he had to find a place to live, , the fact that he is living with me and I am the bigger earner , can he lead any kind of quality of life. If we were to split up (not that we are), he would never have enough to pay rent, gas, leccy, water, c/tax, tv licence. food, clothes, travel expenses.
I do think men have a really rough time when they split from there exes, they have to try and get themselves somewhere to live so that they have a base for there children and csa dont give them a chance because they are there as soon as the split has happened.
There has to be a fairer way to deal with this, everbodys situation is different and maybe thats the way to go, is to make it an individual case!! That is only a suggestion!!.
I think any dealings with the csa is to always do it in writting, keep a copy and send recorded delivery.
Good luck!!

stressed_eric_4

have you asked for a re-assessment since you had a child together and stopped working?

it might be worthwhile you trying to pm someone on here called kellogs, she could calculate using your up to date figures what you would have to pay, it might have been before some of your wages were taken into account to pay the rent/mortgage etc, dont do anything without checking with kellogs, she's very good and gives sound advice. or join nacsa i'm not a member but plenty of people say they give good advice.

good luck and keep us posted, also if you do anything with the csa make sure you write/email and send recorded delivery - they ahve a habit of losing things!!

stressed_eric_4

sorry it's kelloggs36 if you go to members list she's on page 35 maybe you can pm her from there. eric

stressed_eric_4

meant page 85 under k sorry

karen69_2

I wonder why CSA has been allowed to get away with things for so long! First we were told that EVERYONE would be on the new system by a 2005 deadline - ha! Then we were told that those who would be less than £10 a week better off on the new system would be re-assessed first with those who would be the best off left until last :mad: HOW CAN THEY DO THAT?!!! Then, as the deadline approached CSA get away with it completely by saying they are dis-banding...? All nonsense and, as far as I am concerned, unlawful and immoral.

They are putting so much stress on our relationship that surely they are just making more new customers for themselves!!! Are they above the law as well as any hint of fairness?

karen69_2

stressed_eric wrote: »

have you asked for a re-assessment since you had a child together and stopped working?

it might be worthwhile you trying to pm someone on here called kellogs, she could calculate using your up to date figures what you would have to pay, it might have been before some of your wages were taken into account to pay the rent/mortgage etc, dont do anything without checking with kellogs, she's very good and gives sound advice. or join nacsa i'm not a member but plenty of people say they give good advice.

good luck and keep us posted, also if you do anything with the csa make sure you write/email and send recorded delivery - they ahve a habit of losing things!!

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Hubby always refused to tell CSA what I earned. We did ask for re-assessment when our circumstances changed but, because the ex wasn't going to accept any less money, she had a little tantrum and asked for FULL re-assessment. Hubby had had a small pay rise and we'd taken a lower monthly payment / longer term mortgage (to allow for me not earning!) so they actually put our payments up! We can't do anything to help ourselves can we?! :mad:

stressed_eric_4

still might be worth you asking kellogs36, depending upon the age of the child on csa1 theres something called a carers allowance that reduces as they get older, could be worth looking into, i don't think csa automatically set a reminder to do a review at the relevant ages. when you had your re-assessment did you tell them you weren' working and had a child? whichever csa you're on someone is screwed!! i was under csa1 and my ex cancelled it (nothing i could do about it!!! so mad) got me re-assessed under csa 2 and i pay a lot more than i used to!!!

kelloggs36

Karen, do you earn more or less than your hubby? If less, then you are cutting off your nose to spite your face if there has been a variation regarding housing costs - they will assume a higher percentage to you even if you earn less; if you give your info then it will be done proportionately. Without your income details(not a variation) then you don't get any protected income - so you may be missing out on any discount.

Housing costs reduced so yes, this would result in higher assessable income. Eric is right - once youngest child reaches 16 then no carer's allowance is given which reduces the maintenance requirement; but it doesn't necessarily mean any change to your assessement. If you are paying the full maintenance requirement figure then it will, but if not, it may make no difference at all. PM me your particular details and I will happily do an off the record assessment for you.