What is taken into account with CSA?

Lucky94

Hi,

My DH has just been informed that CSA are phoning around asking questions about him? (ex employer) This is the first we knew as he has been paying PWC but not through CSA they came to a private agreement, now it seems that the PWC believes that she can get more money from us going through the CSA?

My question is what is taken into account and classed as income? We are married with 2 children recieve CTC plus extra as oldest child is on DLA also I'm about to claim CA for my child who is on DLA. DH is also on DLA with a works benefit. None of us are employed at the moment. We have no savings just enough to cover out goings.

Also if we have to fill a form that asks what income etc we have coming in would the PWC get to see this? We think that it's a very private matter that our child is on DLA.

Thanks.

kevin137

If you are on benefit then it would be assessed at £5 if i remember correctly, not sure what else can be taken into consideration if you are on benefit though...

I know CTC WTC etc can if you are working though.

If CSA 2 which is what a new claim is, then it is the simplest way of working things.

The CSA would ONLY ask questions if a claim has been opened though. So if that is the case then you need to stop paying whatever you are direct to the ex. The claim is considered open once they contact you, and that is when they write, not when you say you received it...! It gets more complicated when they send to an incorrect address, as they deem you to of received it then but you can't if it is not the correct address...

The best situation if you are unsure is to actually phone the CSA, and maybe even open the case yourself and STOP paying the ex. That way you have a s start date and there is nothing the ex can do about it...

Lucky94

Thanks for your reply.

I thought maybe i'm wrong that if the NRP is on DLA then the rate is Nil? This is one of the reasons that they came to a private agreement, he gives her cash.

So we're both baffled to why the CSA are now involved DH thinks maybe she is going for backdated CSA, again we're both on benefits so don't know how that would work.

kevin137

It may well be the case, i have never felt with DLA, but if you want to be sure, phone them and ask... If you are unsure what to do and want to make sure, then open a case yourself...

WYSPECIAL

No the PWC doesn't get to see any of the calculations or the fact your child is on DLA.

CSA would be a % of salary, CTC and WTC. DLA is not included. Not sure what CA is?

Alarm bells ring at the sound of paying her in cash!!!!!!!!!!! Is this traceable ie receipts? If not she may claim she has never had it or it wasn't for child maintenance. I advise you to pay by a more secure method such as cheque or bank transfer as it will leave a far better evidential trail.

karenx

Stop paying her cash now or any money! Put the money aside as from now your are probably building up arrears from when the case was opened.

Lucky94

Thanks.

We don't get a salary as we are on joint benefits at the moment. So no WTC just CTC..CA = carers allowance is what I'm claiming for my child along with DLA.

Yes the cash payments have now stopped this week, sadly it was in cash with no paper trace..just good old fashioned trust

13Kent

karenx wrote: »

Stop paying her cash now or any money! Put the money aside as from now your are probably building up arrears from when the case was opened.

I would second this, if the CSA are involved then a case would have been opened and you will start building up arrears, if you are paying the PWC and she denies to the CSA that anything has been paid - as happened in our case - you will end up paying twice as in our experience the CSA take the PWC's word for it, and my husband ended up paying thousands of pounds worth of arrears for money he had already give her.

Do not pay the PWC, but put the money aside instead, ready to pay when the CSA send you an assessment, and I would be tempted to ring the CSA and ask if a case has been opened. If you go onto the CSA calculator it should give you an idea of how much your liability might be too - you might find that the amount the CSA want may be less than you are already paying - you never know!!

13Kent

Lucky94 wrote: »

Thanks.

We don't get a salary as we are on joint benefits at the moment. So no WTC just CTC..CA = carers allowance is what I'm claiming for my child along with DLA.

Yes the cash payments have now stopped this week, sadly it was in cash with no paper trace..just good old fashioned trust

Nooo! Cash is even worse :eek: sorry but from the date the pwc has contacted the csa it's likely that arrears have build up!

Lucky94

I've read on here and on the net that as none of us are working and are both claiming joint benefits at the moment that the amount to be paid will be a flat rate of £5? No matter of how much benefits or child tax credits we receive still £5?..that is less then we were paying her up until earlier this week..so in fact she'll be worse off? This I doubt she realises.

Everything from this day forward will be recorded, we are putting the money in a pot as not to get into debt with the CSA.

Thanks

kevin137

Lucky94 wrote: »

I've read on here and on the net that as none of us are working and are both claiming joint benefits at the moment that the amount to be paid will be a flat rate of £5? No matter of how much benefits or child tax credits we receive still £5?..that is less then we were paying her up until earlier this week..so in fact she'll be worse off? This I doubt she realises.

Everything from this day forward will be recorded, we are putting the money in a pot as not to get into debt with the CSA.

Thanks

Good luck with getting it sorted...