The CSA....again?

raggy_2

My brother has just rung, in floods. The CSA have been on the phone. His monthly maintenance for his 3 children with his ex-wife have increased from £325 to £385.

He has a little girl with his new partner and his partner earns £500, my brother earns £1600 (both per month and net income). They also recieve a further £114 a month child benefit and tax credits together. In all just over £2200 per month.

So mortgage and maintenance eats just over £1000, then food, fuel, utilities, insurance....all the usual costs of living etc, eat up the rest....and they are constantly in deficit every month by several hundred pounds.

So, how does the CSA thing work? I spoke to them earlier and all they said was " he's got 3 children, therefore he must pay, regardless"

Am I right then in thinking this is irrespective of whether this pushes you towards insolvency and what have you? Because this is clearly where it's all going. His ex-wife recieved the house they bought together in its entirety. She has just bought a brand new build that she didn't need, her own was a lovely home but she just 'wanted a new one', which has more than doubled her mortgage. She lives with a lovey guy now, he's taken the kids on and is very good with them. It should all be amicable and happy.

Can anyone help with advice? I am at a loss as to how to support him. He is absolutley on his knees with worry. All his ex-wife will say on the matter is "I am entitled to all I can get".

I'm very worried.

lil_me

http://www.csa.gov.uk/new/calculate/

That's a calculator to make sure it's correct.

So, how does the CSA thing work? I spoke to them earlier and all they said was " he's got 3 children, therefore he must pay, regardless"

That is a harsh way to put it, but yes whatever they say is due, and everyone has it calculated the same, he has to pay to support his 3 children.

He can get the amount reduced by a small percentage for each night the children stay with him.

Prudent

If it is a new system case he has to pay 20% of his net income for two children. He sould be paying £320 per month unless his wages have gone up. He should receive a letter showing how they made this calculation. If it si wrong he can appeal within 14 days.

lil_me

Isn't it 25% for 3 children, which will make it about the amount stated won't it ?

MissMotivation

raggy wrote:

My brother has just rung, in floods. The CSA have been on the phone. His monthly maintenance for his 3 children with his ex-wife have increased from £325 to £385.

He has a little girl with his new partner and his partner earns £500, my brother earns £1600 (both per month and net income). They also recieve a further £114 a month child benefit and tax credits together. In all just over £2200 per month.

So mortgage and maintenance eats just over £1000, then food, fuel, utilities, insurance....all the usual costs of living etc, eat up the rest....and they are constantly in deficit every month by several hundred pounds.

So, how does the CSA thing work? I spoke to them earlier and all they said was " he's got 3 children, therefore he must pay, regardless"

Am I right then in thinking this is irrespective of whether this pushes you towards insolvency and what have you? Because this is clearly where it's all going. His ex-wife recieved the house they bought together in its entirety. She has just bought a brand new build that she didn't need, her own was a lovely home but she just 'wanted a new one', which has more than doubled her mortgage. She lives with a lovey guy now, he's taken the kids on and is very good with them. It should all be amicable and happy.

Can anyone help with advice? I am at a loss as to how to support him. He is absolutley on his knees with worry. All his ex-wife will say on the matter is "I am entitled to all I can get".

I'm very worried.

So are you saying that he shouldn't have to pay anything? He chose to have kids, therefore, he should have to contribute. £128 per child per month is more than reasonable, i don't know what the problem is!

kelloggs36

How long has the case been open? If it is a new case then it will be 20% of his net income but this will include the tax credits which will be classed as his income, so will be included. Child Benefit is not.

Under the old system, it is much more complicated than that, and housing costs and allowances are all calculated and compared to make the assessment. If I knew which it was I could advise more fully. I am happy to give any checks on assessments under the old rules (as an ex face to face officer of the CSA currently on career break, so technically still employed by them).

kelloggs36

Sorry, under new system it will be 25% of his net income as he has 3 children with his ex wife. Using the calculations you have provided, i.e he takes home 1600 per month, he would under the new rules be paying about 400 per month. 1600 X 12 / 52 to get to his weekly wage. Multiply this by 25% and then multiply by 52 and divide by 12 to get a monthly figure. This equates to 399.96 per month, which is less than he is paying. He may be paying into a pension scheme which is also deducted so this may account for the difference, unless he is on the old system.

Prudent

Sorry yes, it is 25%.

Scarlett1

raggy wrote:

My brother has just rung, in floods. The CSA have been on the phone. His monthly maintenance for his 3 children with his ex-wife have increased from £325 to £385.

He has a little girl with his new partner and his partner earns £500, my brother earns £1600 (both per month and net income). They also recieve a further £114 a month child benefit and tax credits together. In all just over £2200 per month.

So mortgage and maintenance eats just over £1000, then food, fuel, utilities, insurance....all the usual costs of living etc, eat up the rest....and they are constantly in deficit every month by several hundred pounds.

So, how does the CSA thing work? I spoke to them earlier and all they said was " he's got 3 children, therefore he must pay, regardless"

Am I right then in thinking this is irrespective of whether this pushes you towards insolvency and what have you? Because this is clearly where it's all going. His ex-wife recieved the house they bought together in its entirety. She has just bought a brand new build that she didn't need, her own was a lovely home but she just 'wanted a new one', which has more than doubled her mortgage. She lives with a lovey guy now, he's taken the kids on and is very good with them. It should all be amicable and happy.

Can anyone help with advice? I am at a loss as to how to support him. He is absolutley on his knees with worry. All his ex-wife will say on the matter is "I am entitled to all I can get".

I'm very worried.

try not to worry, its your brother's situation so you shouldnt get stressed out by it

Your brother paying less than £100 per week for his 3 children is really good, my ex used to pay £52 per week for my Daughter, if he is finding it hard to manage then he needs to find a way of budgeting, especially if he has £1200 left over per month after paying the mortgage and his maintenace and he still cant manage.

Whatever his ex wife has is irrelevant, 3 children have to be raised and if he was under the old rules he would be paying 1/3 of his wages not 1/4.

space_rider

My ex husband moans at paying me £140 per month for 2 children. He is self employed so dont know what he earns. I have said to him on many occasions that he can have child benefit, tax credits and our children. One of the children stays with him 3 days a week and the other one doesn`t. I tried with the CSA but they were a waste of time as they cleared the arrears of over £6000 when I had another child with someone else and reduced his assessment.

krashovr10ad

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£128 per child per month is more than reasonable

I agree - that's why I pay £342 (inc. % for arrears) a month to the CSA for a single child is it..???

My ex had 1 child with me and 2 with another man - I'm on the old system and he is on the new. I know he has children from a previous marriage - so throw that into the mix and he's paying less for his 2 than I pay for 1...

And then add that my ex is on benefit and sees NOTHING of what I pay...

But everyone who has dealt with the CSA doesn't need me to say any of this...

I've a tribunal next week and want some of these questions answered - I've summitted quite a lenghty Q&A sheet for them...

More later...

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