Advice on CSA - not done this before!

d3mon4ngel

Good afternoon everyone,

I have a few queries about CSA. I don't have any children myself and so have never had to deal with this before.

My partner has two children, his daughter, who lives with his ex and his autistic son, who lives in a special home under the care of the local social services. He has been unemployed for the past 7 1/2 years, spending 6 (or so) years of that as a carer for his son, and the rest on JSA (though not for lack of trying to find a job!). He always paid the CSA direct from his JSA, and didn't have to pay it while he was carer as he was still living with his ex at that time. We both (wrongly) assumed that it would just automatically go out from his salary too. I've looked at the CSA website, and from looking at that he will need to either set up a payment to them or direct to his ex. I'm going to advise him to set it up to the CSA due to his son not living with his ex. Is this the correct thing to do? According to the website, he should be paying £40 a week. Does this seem about right? Can the CSA take any of my earnings into account and make this figure higher?

Thanks in advance
Sam

shell_542

Its worked out solely on his income. Yours isn't included.

missmontana

That does sound about right if you've worked it out on the CSA calculator for the 2 children. How old are they?
Would he have to make 2 payments then? One to the ex with the daughter and one to the home where his son is looked after? I've not come across circumstances like this before on here.
Might be best to give the CSA a call and see what they say.

d3mon4ngel

His daughter just turned 12 this week, and his son is 7. I think it's probably going to be the best idea to phone them and find out what they say. I'm just worried that the money he pays won't go to his kids. It's a shame he can't just pay the money into an account direct for them, rather than having to go through the ex or through the government.

kingfisherblue

My ex pays Child Maintenance (although with him it was a battle to get it!). I don't keep it separate, to make sure it is all spent on the kids. It goes into the family pot of money, which is used to pay the bills. We all use gas and electricity, water, the internet, eat food, etc.

missmontana

I'm just thinking its going to be different for the little lad as he is living in a special home, you may aswell just keep half the money and buy him things as needed like clothes etc. Who claims the child benefit for him? And who would be regarded as the parent with care, if his dad indeed were his carer, would that be him rather than his mum?
Different for your daughter as she is at home with mum and has different needs, things to be paid for (as well as all the bills, day to day living etc)

d3mon4ngel

Just a quick update to say we're slightly closer to getting this sorted out.

OH has spoken to CSA, who say that he only has to pay for his daughter, and it is therefore only £35 a week that he should pay to his ex. This probably won't go down too well as she's said she'll only agree to a private arrangement if he pays her £40 a week.

They have said that due to his sons circumstances, they don't think he should be paying anything for him at all, but have advised him to check with social services to be sure. Will let you know if there is another update on this. Might help someone else if they find themselves in this situation.

In the meantime, I've told him to put the money he thinks he should be paying to one side so he can't spend it. This way if they turn round and say he owes such and such amount, he will have it saved up (and will have been earning interest on it ) rather than getting a charging order or whatever it is to pay it back bit by bit.