How do I get the CSA to look into Ex's CTC and WTC?

ACon

JulietAmber wrote: »

I disagree with your last sentence - I hope your ex has mended his ways and is in love with his new partner. Hopefully his new child won't suffer like yours have and he's a good dad, I wouldn't want any child to suffer.

I just have to add, if he had mended his ways, he'd want to see his children, who at the moment are still young enough to forgive and forget, well the youngest is. He has not mended his ways, he's doing his damndest to cut them totally out of his life, and have no responsibility towards them. This would not prove to me that this man would stand by another child he manages to produce, and how any woman could trust a man with those morals I dont know.
I hope to God, he wouldnt hurt another child like he's done mine, but his track record aint great!

FBaby

Acon, I can understand your frustration. I don't know if I would do the same, but I can see the reasons that pushes you to it. Juliet I commented on your thread already but I do think the way you see the sytem, you are only one sided. You don't agree with child tax credits being considered in your situation, and I totally agree with you, but you do think it right that your partner should contribute towards your children even though they are NOT his.

A fair system to me would be to abolish taking CTC into account, ESPECIALLY when the children in the household are not the nrp's. I have mixed feelings about the wtc, but wouldn't find it terrible if that was also discounted. Children from the new relationship should incur a reduction in maintenance as it is, but I totally disagree that a reduction should apply when the nrp moves in with a woman who has children from a previous relationship. I know in your case your husband passed away and therefore you can't get maintenance, but it still doesn't mean that your partner should pick up that role, at least not at the detriment of his children, however much he loves them and considers them a full part of his life.

gratefulforhelp_2

ACon wrote: »

and how any woman could trust a man with those morals I dont know.
I hope to God, he wouldnt hurt another child like he's done mine, but his track record aint great!

Gift of the gab, or alternatively women will believe what we want to believe...

And you shouldn't be apologising for wanting the correct assessment from the CSA, that is your childrens' entitlement.

JulietAmber_2

FBaby - if indeed you had read my threads - you would note that I am total agreement.
I have always supported and worked for my children and managed. I don't expect my partner's maintenance to be lowered for my children at all - it should be based on his earnings only.

ACon

It would be much fairer if they didn't reduce it for any children, but also didn't take CTC. That seems a lot more sensible.

JulietAmber_2

Funnily enough, despite my strong feelings about CTC - I do think the CSA have a point about WTC. This is a top up to wages, nothing to do with children so I wouldn't be averse to them leaving those in.
If I was the 'boss' maintenance would be based on - NRP's wages plus a percentage of WTC (it's joint after all). No discount for stepchildren. NRP's should be able to challenge a PWC if access suddenly stops and the CSA should offer support.

FBaby - quote 'I know in your case your husband passed away and therefore you can't get maintenance, but it still doesn't mean that your partner should pick up that role, at least not at the detriment of his children, however much he loves them and considers them a full part of his life. '
I know I messaged you on another post but I feel so strongly about this. My partner has NOT picked up the role of their father - me and the kids still miss him terribly and my partner respects that. I can support my own children and have done for 6 years now. My partner has his own children and his support, both financially and emotionally would not have altered. The only problem, now, is that my income has gone down and his maintenance payment has gone UP - certainly to the benefit, not the detriment of his children!!! (It's to the detriment of mine). And this was only possible because he has stepchildren now and my CTC are used as income.

FBaby

I totally agree, would just add that tax credits should consider child maintenance as income.

sarflee

I've never had a problem with CTC/WTC or any other benefit being included as income because it is a supplement to lower paid to bring them up to a similar level as someone earning more. Why should the person who EARNS more pay more than someone who earns less but has the supplemented benefit?? As far as I am a aware people can receive several thousands it WTC/CTC so why should that be ignored? I used to be quite shocked at the amounts that can be received.

JulietAmber_2

I know what you're saying, Sarflee and I do agree to an extent. What I can't comprehend is how the CSA take ALL of CTC as the NRP's income when in fact it's household income - joint as a couple.
I posed this question to the CSA dealing with our case when he insisted that my income wasn't included in my partner's maintenance. When I pointed out that part, if not all, of CTC WAS the main part of my income - he didn't have an answer just that 'it's the law'.
I agree that maintenance should be part of a PWC's income to give a more fair CTC/WTC benefit. This would prevent a lot of resentment.

sarflee

That's a fair point Juliet Amber. I do strongly agree that, in an ideal world, CM should be included when working out CTC/WTC, but even when a legal
CM/CSA agreement is in place it doesn't stop the NRP defaulting as we often hear on this thread. What would happen in these circumstances so that the PWC had enough money to live on?