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Advice for common problems you may face.
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CSAworkerx
Posts: 221 Forumite
Shared care
What is it?
Shared care is when a child stays with an NRP overnight, they have to have tallest 52 nights over the course of a year to qualify for what we call "bands"
Band 0 - 0 nights
Band 1 - 52 nights
Band 2 - 104 nights
Ect,
A common problem for people is when they disagree on how much shared care is on there case, A caseworker might ask you for evidence to support your claim of X nights, To which you might think "what evidence"
Evidence we accept - Calendar dates first of all, We need to know dates to work out your band, and also to question your ex on the said dates, Next best in my opinion is receipts for travel, This is only very useful if you live far from your Ex, If you provide a recipt which is dated for a trip you made to see your child / pick them up that can be taken as evidence, there are other forms of evidence.
Evidence we cannot/don't accept - Pictures/Photos, I know its clear cut, but we don't accept photos showing yourself with ure child on a certain day for example, we simply cannot. Video would fall under this category aswell.
How to get the right decision on shared care
First, get a calendar, Second, get a notepad. Overtime your child stays over, record the time of arrival, the date ( obviously ) and day/time of departure, make it clear and to the point. Do this every day you have your child, or if your a pwc, every day your child stays with your nrp.
Second, Keep anything you deem to be proof, Its up to you what you deem to be proof, but keep it.
A caseworker has to make a decision on shared care if their is a dispute, And any evidence provided will be looked at, and factored into the decision made, the more of it you have, the better your chances, if X provides ample documents and Y doesn't provide anything, the decision will likely go to X.
Voluntary payments
I work on new cases, therefore I speak from that perspective, If your going to make any VP for child maintenance, keep a record of it, if you make it by bank, label the transfer "in lieu of child maintenance" if you are going to pay cash, get the pwc to sign something agreeing what you are giving her/him is in lieu of child maintenance, keep a record of the date you made the payment, And only make them if you are certain you can trust your ex enough to tell the CSA he/she received the payment from you.
The main problems encountered are people making vp's, having no proof and the other party denying taking any payments, so the simple solution is either not to make any and let the case be set up, or do what I suggested above so there is proof you made a payment.
Wage slips
Provide 5 if weekly paid, 2 if monthly, don't be scared to send in more if needed, Advise us if you have received irregular overtime / bonus or commission, If you send 1 payslip to us, expect to be assessed on anything on the payslip, If you cannot provide payslips, Wages can be gained from ure employer, If this is the case, inform there and then of any bonus/commission/overtime that was received irregularly.
If unable to send payslips in on a promised day, phone before hand and inform us, otherwise we will be forced at that point to go to your employers.
Case progression
Phone in weekly, Ask for an update, if I don't have anything in my queue I will pull your case to myself and begin work on that case, and I can only do that if you phone me.
Case closure
Be sure you want to close the case, Remember if your Ex defaults on a private agreement the case will need to be re-opened and started fresh ( if 2 months have passed ) This will take time to set up and that's time your not receiving payments.
Re-assessment
As this is a broader topic, if you'd like a re-assessment for any reason, have the proof before hand, this includes payslips if your asking for a revision, Evidence if your asking for shared care, And child benefit numbers if you have relevant other children to support.
I was on this forum a while back, and left due to only getting abuse becuase i work for the CSA, From now on ill only be answering questions i feel i may be able to help with, i want to OUTLINE I do not claim to know everything, i work on the 2003 scheme, so if your 1993/2012, i cannot give advice, I work generally on newer cases, therefore if your case is very old and under diffrent rules, i may not be of any help, If you have a question feel free to post it here or PM me, i wont be responding to anything i feel is just trying to get a rise out of me.
With that said, Any questions feel free to ask.
What is it?
Shared care is when a child stays with an NRP overnight, they have to have tallest 52 nights over the course of a year to qualify for what we call "bands"
Band 0 - 0 nights
Band 1 - 52 nights
Band 2 - 104 nights
Ect,
A common problem for people is when they disagree on how much shared care is on there case, A caseworker might ask you for evidence to support your claim of X nights, To which you might think "what evidence"
Evidence we accept - Calendar dates first of all, We need to know dates to work out your band, and also to question your ex on the said dates, Next best in my opinion is receipts for travel, This is only very useful if you live far from your Ex, If you provide a recipt which is dated for a trip you made to see your child / pick them up that can be taken as evidence, there are other forms of evidence.
Evidence we cannot/don't accept - Pictures/Photos, I know its clear cut, but we don't accept photos showing yourself with ure child on a certain day for example, we simply cannot. Video would fall under this category aswell.
How to get the right decision on shared care
First, get a calendar, Second, get a notepad. Overtime your child stays over, record the time of arrival, the date ( obviously ) and day/time of departure, make it clear and to the point. Do this every day you have your child, or if your a pwc, every day your child stays with your nrp.
Second, Keep anything you deem to be proof, Its up to you what you deem to be proof, but keep it.
A caseworker has to make a decision on shared care if their is a dispute, And any evidence provided will be looked at, and factored into the decision made, the more of it you have, the better your chances, if X provides ample documents and Y doesn't provide anything, the decision will likely go to X.
Voluntary payments
I work on new cases, therefore I speak from that perspective, If your going to make any VP for child maintenance, keep a record of it, if you make it by bank, label the transfer "in lieu of child maintenance" if you are going to pay cash, get the pwc to sign something agreeing what you are giving her/him is in lieu of child maintenance, keep a record of the date you made the payment, And only make them if you are certain you can trust your ex enough to tell the CSA he/she received the payment from you.
The main problems encountered are people making vp's, having no proof and the other party denying taking any payments, so the simple solution is either not to make any and let the case be set up, or do what I suggested above so there is proof you made a payment.
Wage slips
Provide 5 if weekly paid, 2 if monthly, don't be scared to send in more if needed, Advise us if you have received irregular overtime / bonus or commission, If you send 1 payslip to us, expect to be assessed on anything on the payslip, If you cannot provide payslips, Wages can be gained from ure employer, If this is the case, inform there and then of any bonus/commission/overtime that was received irregularly.
If unable to send payslips in on a promised day, phone before hand and inform us, otherwise we will be forced at that point to go to your employers.
Case progression
Phone in weekly, Ask for an update, if I don't have anything in my queue I will pull your case to myself and begin work on that case, and I can only do that if you phone me.
Case closure
Be sure you want to close the case, Remember if your Ex defaults on a private agreement the case will need to be re-opened and started fresh ( if 2 months have passed ) This will take time to set up and that's time your not receiving payments.
Re-assessment
As this is a broader topic, if you'd like a re-assessment for any reason, have the proof before hand, this includes payslips if your asking for a revision, Evidence if your asking for shared care, And child benefit numbers if you have relevant other children to support.
I was on this forum a while back, and left due to only getting abuse becuase i work for the CSA, From now on ill only be answering questions i feel i may be able to help with, i want to OUTLINE I do not claim to know everything, i work on the 2003 scheme, so if your 1993/2012, i cannot give advice, I work generally on newer cases, therefore if your case is very old and under diffrent rules, i may not be of any help, If you have a question feel free to post it here or PM me, i wont be responding to anything i feel is just trying to get a rise out of me.
With that said, Any questions feel free to ask.
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Comments
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I would like to know the answer to two questions that no one has ever given me a clear answer to.
1) Why did they introduce CSA2 in 2003, if CSA1 (1993 scheme) was fair and running so well.
2) Why was there not a transfer on mass to the CSA2 from CSA1 as I and a few other people where informed in 2006 was going to happen.
The answers will most likely blame computers, but why should i have to pay more than someone who is on CSA2, I did write to the CSA about this and they sent me a letter calling me a looser and the P.W.C. a winner!!0 -
What right has the CSA to decide how much one parent should pay the other. Who are they to make a judgement about a father on what or how he contributes to the upbringing of his children. My son has a shared residence of his children, three and a half days one week and two and a half the next. He provides a home for them, they have their own rooms and own x-box equipment etc., he buys their clothes, from shoes, to coats to pyjamas and underwear. They are growing boys and feeding them is not cheap. For the first year of separation from his ex. he had his children 198 nights out of 365 nights. Despite full documentation, the CSA did not allow this and only allowed part of it. He believed he was sharing care of his children equally, both he and his ex. sharing the children's upkeep and both sharing bills for school uniforms, holidays etc.. He was totally shocked when his ex. resurected her claim after three years and he was landed with a large bill for arrears. The CSA wanted to take 40% of his salary at first, but it would have left him unable to provide for his children. He now pays 25% of his salary to a grasping ex. wife, who works full time herself, has a partner and claims all the benefits.
Do any of you people working for the CSA ever put yourselves in the shoes of lone fathers who are sharing residence of their children almost equally, paying all household bills themselves, and paying their ex. wives child maintenance in addition. These fathers who have shared residence orders are taxed as though they are single persons, which quite clearly they are not. No tax credits, working tax credit or child benefits for them.
The way it works out with a shared residence, is that dad pays for the upkeep of his children whey they are with him, and then he pays again when they are with their mother. And dont even mention the palty allowance dads are given for overnight stays - it doesn't even pay for the children's tea.
Before any mums on here start belly-aching, just remember that at least you get child benefit, child tax credit and if you are working 16 hours, you wll get working tax family credit. Contrast that with dad - he only gets the grasping hands of the CSA dipping into his pay packet.
The CSA should get right back to basics and do the job it was set up for. And that is to trace, find, and charge fathers who refuse to maintain their children. Leave dads who are already contributing substationally to the upbringing of their children alone. You are a heartless organisation who would put a father out of a job or even out of his home, provided he paid what you think he should - not what is fair or what he can afford.0 -
The problems associated with equal shared care have been recognised. The 2012 scheme now excludes assessments in this situation. Sadly the CSA cannot make arbitrary decisions - if the PWC makes an application, it must be progressed.0
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Shared care has only been recognised when it is exactly 50/50. In many cases it falls short of that, but the expense of providing a home for the children seems to be about the same. In some ways more problems have been created as some but not all mothers, will oppose a 50/50 shared care as they would not get child maintenance and also they might be expected to split other benefits if there is more than one child.0
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medsec_222 wrote: »What right has the CSA to decide how much one parent should pay the other. Who are they to make a judgement about a father on what or how he contributes to the upbringing of his children. they need to in cases where NRP refuse to support their offspring. Obviously not all NRP are like this.
He now pays 25% of his salary to a grasping ex. wife, who works full time herself, has a partner and claims all the benefits. it dosent matter what the ex works. Its not her new partners probem to support kids that are not his (altho i bet he does if they live together without quibble) and if they are both working full time then I doubt very much they are claiming benefits other then Child benefit. Have you seen their benefit notifications or bank statements?
Before any mums on here start belly-aching, just remember that at least you get child benefit, child tax credit and if you are working 16 hours, you wll get working tax family credit. Contrast that with dad - he only gets the grasping hands of the CSA dipping into his pay packet. if a nrp is to pay 15% for his one child, that is £15 in every £100 net. Hardly A lot of money. The real hardship towards NRP comes in when they have arrears to pay. Bear in mind that a PWC may have child benefit and other wage top ups but she will also be paying for the children. I would bet a tenner she dosent have savings as the benefits are usually topping up a low income! .
The CSA should get right back to basics and do the job it was set up for. And that is to trace, find, and charge fathers who refuse to maintain their children. Leave dads who are already contributing substationally to the upbringing of their children alone. You are a heartless organisation who would put a father out of a job or even out of his home, provided he paid what you think he should - not what is fair or what he can afford. i really think a % is the fairest way. What do you think is a fair figure? .
Sadly there are some pwc who do take the mick and deny they have received money when they have etc but these people really are in the minority. I suspect the vast majority of CSA cases are because NRP refuse to pay and then find themselves in a arrears situation feeling they can no longer afford to live.0 -
I would like to know the answer to two questions that no one has ever given me a clear answer to.
1) Why did they introduce CSA2 in 2003, if CSA1 (1993 scheme) was fair and running so well.
2) Why was there not a transfer on mass to the CSA2 from CSA1 as I and a few other people where informed in 2006 was going to happen.
The answers will most likely blame computers, but why should i have to pay more than someone who is on CSA2, I did write to the CSA about this and they sent me a letter calling me a looser and the P.W.C. a winner!!
1) The intention was to move all CSA1 cases to 2003 scheme in 1 year, this failed horribly and there are still caseing being moved, i wouldnt blame computers, id blame awful management decisions and ridiculous expectations, They have learnt from that mistake and have introduced the 2012 scheme in phases, starting with cases with 3 QC's then 2 and will eventually take every case, last i heard it was planned for november this year.
2) As mentioned, the idea was to move every case to CSA2 within a year, this failed horribly so you did hear right, that was the plan.0 -
medsec_222 wrote: »What right has the CSA to decide how much one parent should pay the other. Who are they to make a judgement about a father on what or how he contributes to the upbringing of his children. My son has a shared residence of his children, three and a half days one week and two and a half the next. He provides a home for them, they have their own rooms and own x-box equipment etc., he buys their clothes, from shoes, to coats to pyjamas and underwear. They are growing boys and feeding them is not cheap. For the first year of separation from his ex. he had his children 198 nights out of 365 nights. Despite full documentation, the CSA did not allow this and only allowed part of it. He believed he was sharing care of his children equally, both he and his ex. sharing the children's upkeep and both sharing bills for school uniforms, holidays etc.. He was totally shocked when his ex. resurected her claim after three years and he was landed with a large bill for arrears. The CSA wanted to take 40% of his salary at first, but it would have left him unable to provide for his children. He now pays 25% of his salary to a grasping ex. wife, who works full time herself, has a partner and claims all the benefits.
Do any of you people working for the CSA ever put yourselves in the shoes of lone fathers who are sharing residence of their children almost equally, paying all household bills themselves, and paying their ex. wives child maintenance in addition. These fathers who have shared residence orders are taxed as though they are single persons, which quite clearly they are not. No tax credits, working tax credit or child benefits for them.
The way it works out with a shared residence, is that dad pays for the upkeep of his children whey they are with him, and then he pays again when they are with their mother. And dont even mention the palty allowance dads are given for overnight stays - it doesn't even pay for the children's tea.
Before any mums on here start belly-aching, just remember that at least you get child benefit, child tax credit and if you are working 16 hours, you wll get working tax family credit. Contrast that with dad - he only gets the grasping hands of the CSA dipping into his pay packet.
The CSA should get right back to basics and do the job it was set up for. And that is to trace, find, and charge fathers who refuse to maintain their children. Leave dads who are already contributing substationally to the upbringing of their children alone. You are a heartless organisation who would put a father out of a job or even out of his home, provided he paid what you think he should - not what is fair or what he can afford.
Commenting on all your post, but the bits in bold i need to clarify first.
What gives us the right? We follow laws and guidelines, we do a job, we dont want "the right" to decide cases, we simply follow what we are told, Caseworkers are basically sheep.
As for do we ever put ourselves in someone else's shoes, personally speaking no, As if i started making PERSONAL choices rather than taring every person with the same brush, thats a very fast way to get sacked, remeber if i took pity on an NRP or a PWC and the other party filed a complaint on me as a caseworker, every decision ive made, phonecall ive had, letter ive sent would be checked and re-checked, if i showed ANY bias to any person in that case id be disciplined if not sacked, So no, alltho im human and i can see when things are simply unfair, i have to be a sheep and make decisions.
speaking about your case, do i think thats fair? No, but i can see why its allowed.0 -
I know a couple of nrps in shared care arrangements, and indeed, the situation seems very unfair to them in that they still have to pay csa despite having the children half of the time. However, for shared care to work best for the children, it is even more essential that the parents can be civil to each other and able to agree on essential matters. In both cases I know, they do pay a small amount of maintenance, but it has been agreed with the other parent that they are responsible for the full cost of certain items, such as school meals, school trips and the full school uniform. It works for them.0
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Thanks for your honest reply CSAworkerx, its the first time that anyone from the CSA has been honest about transfering over to CSA2 from CSA1,
I am one of those N.R.P's who is still stuck on CSA1 due to mismanagement by the CSA, To top it all my payments where due to finish in January this year, but another year has been added on, due to the C.B. being extended until the child is twenty,What I dread most like most N.R.P's is the postman, as one brown envelope from the CSA can mean another assessment,
I can now look forward to January 2015, the date that my CSA case closes so that i can start to have a normal life, my G/F of 12 yrs will be able to stay with me more nights (3 nights is the limit as per J.S.A. rules) or even move in with me, without a letter from the CSA demanding her payslips, or i will get a £1000 fine,
For those of you who don't understand how it works for us N.R.P's still on CSA1,
They take your housing costs into consideration, but not your living costs, all they have to do by law is leave you with the same amount as you would get on J.S.A. So if my G/F did move in with me they could leave us with little more that what a couple would get on J.S.A. Why should my G/F give up everything that she has worked for to go back to living on J.S.A. all this is proved if you look on what they have to leave you with (protected income) on your CSA1 letter0 -
We just want a fair Child support system that acknowledges what each parent provides & doesnt disregard every thing that the nrp does believing the pwc everytime ! Our case is a perfect example.Despite providing for the children from the start they have been too quick to take everything our pwc says as gospel leaving us with massive 'arrears'.It has been a great struggle to keep our heads above water this year when CSA wanted to take up to 40% of wages. Finally they agreed on over 25% but as we didnt qualify for any tax credits( they work them out before a quarter of wage goes to her !)it has left us counting every penny to feed & clothe ourselves and young son age 7.0
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