CSA2 (unfortunately)

p9cbs

I am the parent without care and have just been changed over to CSA2 as requested by my ex, 13 weeks after my case was closed due to having new baby with current wife and being told I have to pay zero??!!

The only thing the CSA have calculated my new payments on are my wages and they have asked for nothing other than wage slips. Do they take deductions from our child tax credits as well?? If so, then why have they not asked me if I am receiving any??

Thanks

borders_dude

p9cbs wrote: »

CSA2 (unfortunately)

I had to laugh at that. Im a non resident parent on the old rules, I would love to be on the new rules, infact most people on old rules would prefer to the on new rules. Id call it lucky rather than unfortunate.

kelloggs36

I,m surrised the question was not on the form - are you sure you didn't miss it?

p9cbs

Borders-dude,
It is just crazy as their last assessment on CSA1 had me paying zero, then 3 months and 1 CSA2 transfer later, I am now expected to pay £250 per month!!! So on one scheme, I cannot afford to pay a penny (according to the CSA) and on the new scheme I can afford £250 yet nothing has changed with my circumstances - well apart from us only having the 1 wage coming in now my wife is on maternity leave. It is totally !!!! eyed but thats the CSA for you eh!!!!

Debicj

In theory you should inform them of all income, including tax credits. But I suppose if they haven't asked you could keep quiet.

The tax credits will only be taken as your income if you are the main earner and earn more than your partner. If you earn the same, then they will take account of half. If your partner earns more, then none will be included.

If you decide not to inform the CSA of the tax credits, just keep in mind that in the future you could get a demand for arrears if they find out and back date the assessment including the tax credits.

Personally, I'd let them know now rather than have a shock in a few months/years time.

p9cbs

The funny thing is, they didn't send me any forms!! 3 months after the last case was closed, they phoned and asked me to send in 3 wage slips. They then sent me a new direct debit form and bill for £250 per month!!! They have asked no other questions.

When I queried the moving from CSa1 to CSA2, they did send me some other forms asking about my partners wages but when I queried this they said not to fill them in as it was a mistake to send them!! I asked them if they do not take my partners earnings/outgoings etc into account for CSa2, why had they sent these forms. They said 'bin them it's a mistake'.

Usually my partner woould be the main earner but she is on maternity leave so I am the only earner. When she goes back to work, I don't expect we will get any tax credits anyway.

I thought we had it sorted - they just took into account my wages on CSA2 and that was it. Now though, I am totally confused!! Each time I phone them, I get different answers - I think I just give up!!

Debicj

As far as I am aware the csa cannot start the new CS2 case without sending you the relevant forms. It is an entirely different case to the old one so they have to treat it as such and start again from scratch. They should have issued a new MAF/MEF (abbreviations for the first forms they send, not sure what it stands for.)

I'd get advice on this because if they haven't sent the forms, the new assessment isn't 'legal'. Try NACSA for help.

JulietAmber_2

That's weird, my partner didn't get any forms either - just a reply paid envelope and a compliment slip asking for copies of his bank statements, wages and tax credits. Then they sent a letter saying how much he had to pay and a direct debit form.
Please tell them about the tax credits - not only will they make you pay the arrears, they may also stick a £1000 fine on too (happened to a friend of mine). You're right about the WTC, but CTC they take all of that whether you are higher earner or not.

p9cbs

JulietAmber,
Yes that is exactly what happened to me - wage slips, then DD form. That simply they have added the cost of a 2nd mortgage onto my expenses!!!! I wonder if the PWC is the one who not only calls the shots on CSA2 but even fills in all the forms for the NRP to ensure they get all they can/want out of it!!! I certainly did not fill in any forms.

I will tell them about the CTC if I decide to apply for it.

JulietAmber_2

I guess, like us, you are not disputing the children are yours, you have evidence of your earnings - that's all they need to string you up for the next decade or so! Our case is slightly different and both our earnings are quite low so we rely on WTC and CTC. The fact that they take CTC as my partner's earnings and we only get them because of MY children is really hard to swallow - specially when his ex is laughing her head off!

Blue_Elephant

The old scheme was stopped because it was overly complicated. the new scheme will take into account only your income after tax/NI and whether or not there are any children in your household. they don't "need" to actually send out the MAF (application form) as a PWC can apply over the phone, or a MEF as they can use a telephone call recorded as them "contacting you" about the new case, as they would already hold most of the information they need from the previous case (which they can carry over) and also, if you didn't dispute paternity the first time, they will presume paternity for the same child/children.

The old case wouldn't have closed due to you having a child in your household, but because PWC requested closure. If there is more than 13 weeks between closure and new case, the case will open on new rules, if there are less it would have reopened on old rules. Bear in mind under the old scheme they would also take into account both parties' partners income to assess their contribution to their own households.

Have you told them you have a child in your household? Does your letters state the child has been taken into account? If not get in touch with them and double check, make sure that you are getting child benefit for the child (if your wife gets it they'll need her name). They can't take child benefit into account as your income, but it needs to be in payment for them to be able to take your new child into account.

HTH