CSA1 Departure

Fclamp1

A recent re-assessment was made which was incorrect. The effective date of this was the middle of last year. We wrote and pointed this out. In the meantime, the PWC applied for a Departure (Jan 2013). This was allowed on the basis of shared housing costs. The departure team have corrected the initial incorrect re-assessment back to last year but over-ridden this with the departure in spite of the application not being made until January. Can they do this - it will result in several thousand pounds of arrears?

HoneyNutLoop

Yes, they can if the PWC disputed the recent calculation within 1 month of it being notified, on the grounds of the Departure application.

Can you clarify, do you mean the assessment is incorrect because the effective date goes back to last year? Or for another reason?

You also have the right to dispute or appeal the calculation, within the prescribed time limits.

Fclamp1

Because it will mean thousands of pounds of arrears suddenly appearing out of the blue. It took them 5 months to make the original calculation which we disputed as incorrect. They agreed it was incorrect but have upped it anyway and backdated it.

HoneyNutLoop

Unfortunately, backdating of assessments is all too common, and doesn't of itself mean the calculation is wrong.

Again, just so I'm following this right - they took 5 months to make a calculation, you disputed it which led to it increasing, and it's been changed a third time from the same effective date because the PWC has applied for a departure - is that right?

Fclamp1

The calculation was incorrect in that it was too high. The departure people agreed and lowered it to the correct level but then have over-ridden this by applying a departure amount almost trebling the assessment.

Sensemaya

Go to your MP and ask for a complete account breakdown from Day 1 when case commenced.

Then write a letter demanding an explanation of why they have upped it -again through your MP. No doubt the MP will write a letter of their own too.

Crellow4

How will a complete breakdown help? The effective date if the supersession is set by the date if contact - if your ex contacted CSA 5 months ago than that sets the effective date. If the calculation was incorrect, it will b revised still using the same effective date. The PWC then had month to apply for a Departure to ensure the impact of the Departure is from the same effective date as the baseline calculation. Had her Departure application been outside the 4 week period it would have been from a different effective date.
What might be more useful than a complete breakdown, which will take time and will not simply address this latest issue, is to ask for a written explanation of the 2 calculations involved. You could also request an interview if you feel this would be beneficial.
What percentage of your housing costs have been attributed to your new partner?

Sensemaya

Crellow4 wrote: »

How will a complete breakdown help? Given the CSA propensities for inaccurate account breakdowns I think it would be a good idea to start from the beginning.I'm speaking from experience having had numerous inaccurate breakdowns -sometimes within days of one another. Making everything up to date could sort it out.The effective date if the supersession is set by the date if contact - if your ex contacted CSA 5 months ago than that sets the effective date. If the calculation was incorrect, it will b revised still using the same effective date. The PWC then had month to apply for a Departure to ensure the impact of the Departure is from the same effective date as the baseline calculation. Had her Departure application been outside the 4 week period it would have been from a different effective date.
What might be more useful than a complete breakdown, which will take time true but if an MP is involved it's produced much more quickly and will not simply address this latest issue, is to ask for a written explanation of the 2 calculations involved.Agree & to include a/breakdown You could also request an interview if you feel this would be beneficial. In my experience these are a waste of time but you never know.
What percentage of your housing costs have been attributed to your new partner?

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PreludeForTimeFeelers

Crellow4 wrote: »

How will a complete breakdown help? The effective date if the supersession is set by the date if contact - if your ex contacted CSA 5 months ago than that sets the effective date. If the calculation was incorrect, it will b revised still using the same effective date. The PWC then had month to apply for a Departure to ensure the impact of the Departure is from the same effective date as the baseline calculation. Had her Departure application been outside the 4 week period it would have been from a different effective date.
What might be more useful than a complete breakdown, which will take time and will not simply address this latest issue, is to ask for a written explanation of the 2 calculations involved. You could also request an interview if you feel this would be beneficial.
What percentage of your housing costs have been attributed to your new partner?

Sometimes the default responses here of "Ask for a complete breakdown", "Contact your MP" or "Never speak to the CSA on the telephone" are less than helpful and instead just drag situations out.

HoneyNutLoop

I would start by checking if all the figures used are correct, so the net income for you both, your housing costs, council tax, details of all the children in your household, etc.

If all the component parts are right, I would then be asking a caseworker to walk me through the calculations to make sure there are no errors there. If necessary ask them to provide a more detailed explanation in writing.

If there are no mistakes in the calculation or the information used, I would prepare myself for the possibility that the assessment is correct, whether or not I felt personally that it was too high. However, even at that stage, you can still appeal the decision, but if there is nothing evidently wrong, you will need to ready for an outcome that doesn't go in your favour, and do everything you can to financially prepare yourself.

I also am not clear what the point would be in asking for an account breakdown, as all this will show is the amount you've paid versus the amount you have been assessed to pay, and does not give any breakdown of how the assessments were worked out. Fine if you are mystified where arrears have come from, but not really of any help when you know where they're from but disagree with the assessment.

Also, while your MP can certainly help with getting the CSA to move faster or put right mistakes they've made, what they can't do is get the CSA to deviate from legislation and make one-off exceptions from the rules for their constituents.

Sensemaya

HoneyNutLoop wrote: »

Unfortunately, backdating of assessments is all too common, and doesn't of itself mean the calculation is wrong. BO*LLOCKs

Again, just so I'm following this right - they took 5 months to make a calculation, you disputed it which led to it increasing, and it's been changed a third timededumbdedah from the same effective date because the PWC has applied for a departure - is that right?

Do you work for the CSA?

You have just explained why the CSA are so incompetent!