What is included as income by the CSA

HelpMePay

RichP wrote: »

Hi, can anyone tell me what is included by the CSA when they calculate what has to be paid?

The ex has a monthly income from a 16 hour job, also gets housing benefits, WTC, CTC and a maintenance payment from myself for our daughter, is it just her wages that go towards her figures?

Although I have asked her to discuss the situation and sort it without the CSA being involved she refuses point blank, we also have a son that lives with me and it is for him I want to claim.

Also there is some unsecured debt which is all in my name but the majority was run up by her (if only I had hindsight) it is in the form of a visa and personal loan, I have spent some time reading the CSA website and believe I am right that the visa will not be recognised by the CSA when calculating how much I must pay but how about the personal loan?

I would like some clarification so that I can personally check the details when the CSA come up with their figures, I have heard so many horror stories and want to make sure it is fair for both my son and daughters sake.

I would have thought that WTC, CTC and salary would count as income, not sure about housing benefit and your maintenance though.

Whatever that income amount, 85% should be relevant (as she has one child staying with her), and you should receive 15% of the remainder for the child living with you. As the child living with you does not stay with your ex the amount would not be reduced.

You will pay her 15% of 85% of your income minus one seventh for the one night the child living with her stays with you.

I hope this helps (and is correct )

13Kent

Apologies Loopy girl is right, I was considering her as a PWC not a NRP.

Of course with a fair system her income would be calculated as the same as a PWC as it would as a NRP. The CSA however calculate it differently depending on which you are!!

My OH was left severely in debt after his ex spent on credit cards, phone bills etc that were in his name. Also household bills that she didn't bother paying even though she had been given the money to do so, sadly all bills in his name and they came back to haunt him as late as years later - he was oblivious as he thought they had been paid.

She also took the bank account into overdraft -and they also had a joint loan which as she wasn't working he had to pay. Part of the remainder of the joint loan was taken into account in the final settlement as was the portion of the mortgage payments that he had paid since the split, but that was in the divorce - the CSA did not take any of it into account.

kelloggs36

RichP wrote: »

Thanks, my understanding from the solicitor is that if the house was sold then the personal debt would be looked at in the settlement, normal repayment is my responsiblilty.

The loan was for the car which she still has, unfortunately I can not prove it was for the car as its just a personal loan and will write it off to experience I guess.

You have nothing to lose if you apply for a variation on the grounds of the debt - go for it.

kelloggs36

As the NRP, your ex would have her income plus child tax credits and working tax credits counted as her income, unless she has a partner who earns more than her - in which case the working tax credits will be ignored.

RichP_2

Thanks for your input everyone, will now have to wait and see what the CSA come up with, not sure I am able to check what the exact amount is she gets in wages, WTC and CTC and I would expect her to do all she can to lie about it, she still tells me she will never pay me maintenance for our son hence I want every last penny I am entitled to.

RichP_2

13Kent wrote: »

Apologies Loopy girl is right, I was considering her as a PWC not a NRP.

Of course with a fair system her income would be calculated as the same as a PWC as it would as a NRP. The CSA however calculate it differently depending on which you are!!

My OH was left severely in debt after his ex spent on credit cards, phone bills etc that were in his name. Also household bills that she didn't bother paying even though she had been given the money to do so, sadly all bills in his name and they came back to haunt him as late as years later - he was oblivious as he thought they had been paid.

She also took the bank account into overdraft -and they also had a joint loan which as she wasn't working he had to pay. Part of the remainder of the joint loan was taken into account in the final settlement as was the portion of the mortgage payments that he had paid since the split, but that was in the divorce - the CSA did not take any of it into account.

This sounds so much like my situation and it makes me so angry that someone can abuse an already terrible situation when children are involved.

Rebecca01

I had a credit card debt and two personal loans with my ex. After a tribunal both loans were taken into account. They were both in my name only. One was for a car that she had , and the other a holiday that we both went on. The loans were for the benefit of us both so could be taken into account.

Sadly no credit cards are taken into account as everyone has said.

Try for a variation as previously stated , just see what happens.

13Kent

We are testament to the fact that there IS light at the end of the tunnel, but it was a tough few years I can tell you - not helped by the unfair CSA system which we feel has shafted us every step of the way despite our attempts to get a fair maintenance assessment - my OH has ALWAYS paid for his children and would always want to support them, but we would like a fair assessment which wasn't weighted in favour of the PWC - she has nil income despite both her and her husband working due to getting WTC and therefore has never contributed anything towards the maintenance assessement, we have paid over the odds due to the CSA taking her word for it that my husband had paid nothing when he was paying regularly - and he also continued to pay the household bills and mortgage as well as paying maintainance for a long time after they split. - But none of this or any of the debt she left him with was taken into account and for a while we were left with next to nothing to live on as the CSA took the full 30% they could and arrears, but did not consider any payments he was making to the joint loan which she was not contributing to, and also the debt payments hewas also having to pay.

Incidentally to add insult to injury it wasn't my husbands choice to leave the family home - after her series of affairs where he forgave her and tried to keep his family together she eventually decided to make him leave, and even after that he was doing his best to win her back and keep his family. He was literally left with nothing - no home, no money, massive debts not helped by the fact that he couldn't change his bank account that she still had access to due to his credit rating, and being forced into a life where he was a part time Dad against his will.

But more than 10 years on he now has another chance of a happy family life, and his older children have siblings that absolutely adore them! The one thing he wouldn't change is having his older children but as for the rest of it......... hindsight is a wonderful thing!!

Loopy_Girl

To try and work out her income, you could try www.entitledto.co.uk and assume that she is working 16 hours NMW and that would then tell you how much WTC/CTC she could be claiming.

Agree totally with HelpMePay

mrsf16_2

They SHOULD take into account any CTC, WTC and CB the NRP may be claiming in their new family if it applies. My original liabilty order was worked out without this, and it was only when I pointed it out that they agreed they should have included this in the original assessment.

The NRP has to declare all of their earnings, and they CAN check up on any CTC & WTC through DWP so if you think they are claiming CTC & WTC then make sure you tell the CSA and make sure they check it as it can make a massive difference.