Is there anyway to make them see sense?

Guitarbloke_2

Hi, I'm a newbie so please bear with me.

I've been paying Child Support for my - now 3 year old - son for about a year now, but it's crippled me financially as I am on a relatively low income.

I have spoken to the CSA about this and explained my essential outgoings such as rent and travel costs to work and they in no uncertain terms told me that if I was having problems then I should move house to a cheaper area and to get a job I could walk to (that's pretty much verbatim).

They also told me that under no circumstances would they look at my outgoings (not even my rent) and make a payment adjustment based on it.

Is this usual practice? Is there anything I can do to retain some of my earnings at least for travel costs to work? My rent is due to go up and I simply can't afford it whilst making this payment so I'm really worried about this. I'm currently paying £220 a month (my son's mother claimed very later so I have to pay arrears). The decision of how much I have to pay was made and presented to me in 2006 if that helps at all.

Any advice would be really appreciated

Thanks in advance

Sean

seven-day-weekend

I know very little about the CSA but for one child I think the rule is you pay 15% of your income, no ifs or buts.

However, I'm sure people will be around soon who know more.

N71

seven-day-weekend is correct. Its 15% of your average take home pay for one child. The only thing that alters that amount is shared care. 1/7th off, for every regular weekly overnight stay the child has with you.

If you had a new partner in your household, and she had children (yours or not), you'd also be assessed at a lower rate.

Housing costs are not looked at , and travel to work is only looked at if its's taking a huge amount of your income.

The only other thing that would affect it, is if you are currently paying off debts, that were incurred as a couple.

You may be able to negotiate the amount of arrears you're paying, but there is a minimum amount they'll accept.

youngie

csa do not take into account your outgoings and as previously mentioned take 15% of your income which will only be reduced if you have your child to stay with you on a regular basis

mrsspendalot

Joy-H wrote: »

My partner gets 1/3rd deducted from his wage, its a scandal. No way does it take that amount to keep one child.

It is not supposed to be representative of the cost to keep a child or everyone would pay a flat amount. However, a 1/3 of his income must be under the old rules or must include arrears? Has his income changed since the original assessment? If so, could you apply for a new calculation under the new rules which would then be at 15% ?

I saw on another post from you that your hubby is going to move to a lower paid job to avoid paying 1/3 - well I am no expert but I think that if it can be shown by the ex that this is the only reason for moving jobs then it will not look very good. Do you have other kids living with you or share care with your hubby's child? Things like that could also mean a reduction in his liability.

I hope you get it sorted soon.

okra

OP, it is usual. I think the old system took into account living costs, but because they were subject to abuse in some circumstances (NRP's taking on high mortgages, for example, to offset their child support payments) it's irrelevant on CS2