My mate struggling with CSA

DKLS

Apologies in advance if in wrong place.

My Mate pays £800 a month for two boys 10 & 11 who he has for 2 nights a week, He was recently re-married and had a child of his own, And was hoping to be re-assessed as money is somewhat tight, CSA told him that there are 2 systems the old one and the new one, and he could be re-assessed on the old system, but couldnt be put on the new system which is cheaper.

Any advice or what he should do next?

newcook

Unfortunatly I don't know myself but Kelloggs will no doubt be along soon - she is excellent when it comes to this sort of thing.
you will probably get more answers etc if you ask the board guide to move this post to the benefits section.

Welshlassie

It would depend on whether the £800 was originally a CSA arrangement or between the 2 parents. How much of his monthly salary is the £800 as this sounds quite high?? There are other people who will be along soon who can give more advice.

Scarlett1

DKLS £100 per week per child is quite a lot depending on how much your friend earns he will be looking to pay 20% of his wages for his 2 boys, but with a reduction of 2/7ths for when they stay overnight with him, he will also get another reduction as he has another child so that will be taken into account

ETA: that would be on the new system, maybe your friend can ask to be reviewed under that.

MJMum

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DKLS

Thanks so far, I think he is on 35K per annum.
MJMum, any options of trying to get assessed on new system? or is he stuck for evermore? Thing is his ex, still rings him and asks for more money on a regular basis. He is so stressed out about, especially with new family and has got nowhere with the CSA. And he doesnt want to shirk his reponsibility to the boys, he just wants a fair assessment.

Edit: Mods please move if deemed in the wrong place

comping_cat

Scarlett1 wrote: »

DKLS £100 per week per child is quite a lot depending on how much your friend earns he will be looking to pay 20% of his wages for his 2 boys, but with a reduction of 2/7ths for when they stay overnight with him, he will also get another reduction as he has another child so that will be taken into account

ETA: that would be on the new system, maybe your friend can ask to be reviewed under that.

Yes, this is the new system (would also get some knocked off for his wifes child before they calculate his 20%, but not sure what the % is there) - i have no idea how the old system is worked out.

Zara33

DKLS wrote: »

Apologies in advance if in wrong place.

My Mate pays £800 a month for two boys 10 & 11 who he has for 2 nights a week, He was recently re-married and had a child of his own, And was hoping to be re-assessed as money is somewhat tight, CSA told him that there are 2 systems the old one and the new one, and he could be re-assessed on the old system, but couldnt be put on the new system which is cheaper.

Any advice or what he should do next?

His circumstances have changed so he should be re assessed, unfortunately this will still be under the old rules. As he has another child this will be taken into account, along with any decrease in wages.

pinkshoes

going on the £35k salary, the boys staying over 2 nights/week and the 20% payment (i presume which is after tax), then he should be paying about £300 a month minus whatever the allowance is for his other child, so yeah, £400 is a LOT!!

if his ex is asking for MORE money, why doesn't he suggest that they boys stay with him more often, or permanently? that way it'll cost him less in maintanence, and she'll have to pay out less in food etc...

aMeLia'S~MuMMY

The only way your mate will be reassessed under the new rules would be if he split up with his current wife and she put in a claim , he would then be eligible for CS2 however his new amount of maintenance (for his old case) will be 'phased in'.

The only thing he can currently do is contact the CSA make sure that shared care is in the assessment and report their new child.

Also check that the CSA have all correct details (especially make sure he has housing costs on the system) as currently he appears to be paying near enough £200 a week which IMO is high given the circumstances.

:A

kelloggs36

Yes, if he is already on CS1, then he will be reassessed on CS1 with his current circumstances. In order to get onto CS2, there would have to be another new claim made from a new PWC or from the PWC putting in a claim against another NRP, then the existing NRP should be pulled across onto the new system, but this does not always happen.

#800 per month for 2 children seems very high. Has the correct housing costs been taken into account? Have the correct income figures been used? Is it actually a Full Maintenance Assessment, and not an Interim Maintenance Assessment?