how can i get most out of csa

mystery07

Mr_Green_Genes wrote: »

There appears to be a certain amount of confusion here.

Firstly, despite what may appear to have happened, there is simply no way in law that the CSA will calculate an assessment, send it out and then just change it because the NRP pleads poverty. It may be the case that they got it wrong in the first place and then changed it in the face of a complaint (in fact, I'd say there's a high probability of that happening) but otherwise, no.

Secondly, by CSA2 (CS2), most people mean the revised method of calculating maintenance, brought in following the passing of the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000 which started in 2003. That changed the alchemy of the maintenance calculations in the 1991 Child Support Act into something that was at least understandable by most people, even if not CSA staff.

The new system, C-MEC, already dubbed C-MESS even by parliamentarians, makes some more changes but, if the government is to be believed (yes, I know that's a HUGE leap of faith but stick with this for a minute), will not allow for much writing off of debts. In fact, there is even a suggestion that the CSA will be after the estates of dead people. How tasteless (but how unsurprising) is that??

Never heard it referred too as CSA2 too, so lack of understanding there on my part.

In the situation of my ex, whom I lived with for two & a half years (my sons Dad, the CSA was writing to him for information for months on his income etc (I know because, I used to open all of our incoming mail at that time!).

For his own (although, I did not agree) reasons, he refused to reply. They eventually contacted his employer & sent him a calculation of £280 pm.

At the time, we had genuinely very little money after meeting our bills & our son had just been born. So he rang them explaining this, then appealed in writing & eventually agreed to pay £120 per month. The CSA agreed this. I know they did, because I used to open all the letters from them. And they agreed that he didnt have to back pay arrears, that had built up in the time, that he refused to co-operate.

In the case of my auntie (Ok, i have no evidence to back up, what Im saying here) But I know, she has a new car, I know she has a very good job & my unc says she pays £5 a month for 2 kids & has done for several years. Im sure, that a true calculation, wouldnt say, that she only had to pay £5 pm.

There's no confusion, this is what has happened. I daresay also, that when the CSA finally start getting some money from my ex, IT WILL not be the full calculated amount. Infact, Im pretty sure I wont get it all.

Mr_Green_Genes

jungliemac wrote: »

If a parent with care is on IS then they are in effect being provided with enough money to live (according to what government think a family need) so therefore the way to recoup some of this money is to repay any maintenence received from the non resident parent back to the state. Ultimatley this needs to be done or the cost to every taxpayer would be massive to first pay out IS then to get nothing back. I know it may seem a bit unfair to you as you would spend that money on your child but the cost of living has been calculated already and is set by IS rates..... Hope that makes sense!!

But this has been utterly rejected, even by B-Liars government, who claimed, in the White Paper, that they would stop this when C-MESS comes into being. It doesn't do what they (and you) claim it does.

mystery07

jungliemac wrote: »

If a parent with care is on IS then they are in effect being provided with enough money to live (according to what government think a family need) so therefore the way to recoup some of this money is to repay any maintenence received from the non resident parent back to the state. Ultimatley this needs to be done or the cost to every taxpayer would be massive to first pay out IS then to get nothing back. I know it may seem a bit unfair to you as you would spend that money on your child but the cost of living has been calculated already and is set by IS rates..... Hope that makes sense!!

I personally dont think that the DWP gets much back in a way of maintenance through the CSA. When you put in a claim for maintenance through the CSA whilst on IS you are classed as a low priority. I was on IS for 10 months after my son was born(being too ill to work), & they didnt contact my ex once about paying maintenance. Infact its taken almost three years for them to actually speak with him & Im now working etc. So dont think this is very true.

jungliemac

Hi mystery 07....His initial calculation may have been a penalty amount as he refused to supply info so sometimes assesments are calc with just income details ( from employer) and nowt else. Seems to jumpstart most people to call them and say whoa... heres my housing costs etc and whatever else in needed. Then it may have come down due to having tho correct info provided...Can tell you for certain they Never ever change an assesment just because an NRP says they cant afford it! Usually they will have a change in circumstances that leads to a reassesment. Have no experience of CS2 but its bound to be rubbish as most government bought computer systems couldn't operate an i pod !!

jungliemac

No, recouping the money is a great theory.... not saying it works.(At all). Think it costs more to run than it collects...

mystery07

TheWaltons wrote: »

Taking more out of the pot? But we are putting INTO that pot by paying the taxes they dish out to those in receipt of benefits!!!

Why should we feel guilty for receiving Tax credits, if we've been paying taxes?

You said that you now work 21 hours a week, as a low paid civil servant. In which case, I would imagine you will recieve more in tax credits, than you pay in taxes. I certainly Do!!

I dont feel guilty about that, nor did I say that I think WE should. In 10 years, I will have finished my degree, I will be fully trained for my profession & I wont be in reciept of tax credits. But even in that position, I will happy that my tax is being used to help other single mums. Its some of the other uses that the govt spends our taxes on that i disagree with.

wifeforlife

mystery07 wrote: »

Sorry. What I was expressing was not an opinion. It is was fact. You can end up, being worse off financially, because of the system, by going back to work. My only opinion, is that Mothers, esp. single ones, should have a right to choose whether they want to go out to work, esp. whilst they have little ones. Children, need time from caregivers, esp parents, to help them grow up into functional adults. Women who work, are always going to find giving their children as much as they need difficult. It still hurts, when I drop my son off at his childminders every morning, even though I know he is getting the benefit of mixing with other children, he is not getting the benefit of me. Not even half as much as he should. Women, who dont want to work (because they have children) have the RIGHT not to! I cant be persuaded any other way. Children, as brought up best, by their parents. Period.

Good for you going out to work. I go out to work, almost full time (around 35 hours per week) & Im doing a degree & Im a single mother to a 3yr old. However, anyone in reciept of tax credits are still recieving benefits. In some form, you & I are still being subsidised by the govt. Just as those on IS, however, we are taking more out of the pot.

OMG we're like the same person, Im doing my degree too. My childminder was awful and I travelled such a distance to work leaving dd at such a young age for more than 12 hours a day with someone I didnt really like contributed to my going part time. I do agree with what your saying to an extent, its difficult being a single parent, no one understands till they're in the situation. If I stayed at home I'd be ridiculed for being a waster and louse and when I go to work my colleagues dont understand that when my child is ill I'm the only person who can go collect her, that can stay at home with her and school holidays are a nightmare already and they're a month away. Unfortunatley we just cant win, we can only do what we do!

Thanks for your comments and goodluck with your degree

Cate

Mr_Green_Genes

mystery07 wrote: »

There's no confusion, this is what has happened. I daresay also, that when the CSA finally start getting some money from my ex, IT WILL not be the full calculated amount. Infact, Im pretty sure I wont get it all.

Well, all I can say is, if that is actually the case, can you please tell me exactly how he managed it. Then I'll go back to the CSA and demand a refund of the thousands they got from me (which practically bankrupted me and nearly drove me to the knotted sheets and the loft hatch) because I couldn't afford it either.

This method is clearly the CSA equivalent of the Philosophers Stone. If you don't want to spell it out for fear of it getting into the wrong hands, PM me. I promise not to tell (m)any people about it.

Lil2002

mystery07 wrote: »

For his own (although, I did not agree) reasons, he refused to reply. They eventually contacted his employer & sent him a calculation of £280 pm.

At the time, we had genuinely very little money after meeting our bills & our son had just been born. So he rang them explaining this, then appealed in writing & eventually agreed to pay £120 per month. The CSA agreed this. I know they did, because I used to open all the letters from them. And they agreed that he didnt have to back pay arrears, that had built up in the time, that he refused to co-operate.

The original assessment would have been put in place with no allowance for the child in your household, as your partner had not told them. When your partner phoned in with the info, they would have had to do a reassessment. That could account for the drop in the amount due.

wifeforlife

mystery07 wrote: »

You said that you now work 21 hours a week, as a low paid civil servant. In which case, I would imagine you will recieve more in tax credits, than you pay in taxes. I certainly Do!!

I dont feel guilty about that, nor did I say that I think WE should. In 10 years, I will have finished my degree, I will be fully trained for my profession & I wont be in reciept of tax credits. But even in that position, I will happy that my tax is being used to help other single mums. Its some of the other uses that the govt spends our taxes on that i disagree with.

Ooooopppssss I think you got the wrong person lol

Cate