CSA payments

scrivette

My husband has a ten year old son and had a Private Arrangment with his son's Mother.

The CSA have recently become involved and are asking for £400 a month, this includes arrrears.

If £400 a month is taken we will not be able to afford to pay our mortgage and bills (my husband was recently made redundant and has taken a much lower paid job and we are just about managing to keep up with our bills).

Is there anyway that we can challenge the amount payable? Surely the arrears can be spread out?

We have looked at the booklet provided but it isnt very helpful!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

Soubrette

Do you know when the CSA became involved as they should only be collecting arrears from the date they contacted your partner.

Also if his income has drastically reduced then you should be contacting them to explain the situation and they should be recalculating what is owed.

Sou

scrivette

Thank you, I will check the dates for the arrears.

They have the correct amount of income on record for him, but it appears that they are basing it purely on income, not taking into account outgoings.

To top it off, they have taken the first payment today, a month earlier than they said that they would!

markeymark

as soubrette says u need to find the effective date, was your husband still paying to ex whilst CSA calculating payments? also u need to contact them asap to get a new assessment done on his new earnings

Caz3121

scrivette wrote: »

They have the correct amount of income on record for him, but it appears that they are basing it purely on income, not taking into account outgoings.

Only the older CSA cases (CSA1) take account of any outgoings so it will purely be based on 15% of income

scrivette

Caz3121 wrote: »

Only the older CSA cases (CSA1) take account of any outgoings so it will purely be based on 15% of income

Gosh, that seems crazy, it seems like there isnt anything we can do then.

lindsaygalaxy

Sorry, but as someone on the other foot, I don't think 15% is unreasonable, though remember they will take off a % for any nights you have his son to stay. Its not his son's fault his mother and father are not together and it is for his upbringing, and they do not take any of your income into the amount either.

kelloggs36

When did your husband first become aware of CSA involvement with the case? How much are the arrears? How long are they asking you to pay it over?

scrivette

kelloggs36 wrote: »

When did your husband first become aware of CSA involvement with the case? How much are the arrears? How long are they asking you to pay it over?

Hi Kellogs36,

In July 2008 we had a letter saying that nothing was owing (although the letter was about the child it was addressed to someone else!)

In May 2010 they wrote to say they were reviewing it.

The arrears of £220 are payable from August until December, then in January a final arrears payment of £193.

kelloggs36

how much is the normal maintenance not including arrears?

scrivette

kelloggs36 wrote: »

how much is the normal maintenance not including arrears?

£168.00 per month.