Why would an amount payable change?

AnxiousMum

I got a message from my son today asking why the amount his dad has to pay in child support has gone up by £115 per month and 'why are you taking all his money'.

I asked what he was talking about - and he says his dad got a letter today amending payments from £409 per month (this includes 209 arrears each month till October) and that payments are going to increase to £517 starting this coming pay day (deduction of earnings).

Does anybody have any idea why the amount might have changed? Now I have tried giving him back the amount of arrears to help him out - but I'm not prepared to cancel the CSA - as you only get arrears if you ignore them, and I don't want to have to start all over again, but don't want him hungry either. He refuses to accept it (pride....stubborness?) but now I cannot understand why the amount is increasing? Do they do it automatic if they get hold of latest annual earnings - but would have to be large pay increase to create an additional 100 per month payment.

i have called, but nobody on the 'team' available, so my numbers down for a call back.

meanwhile, the child has said he will now stay at dad's 100% so that the amount reduces - shouldn't be using kids as 'pawns' in the cs saga but guess that's what's happening. Curious as to why the change though......the person I spoke to this evening said she couldn't see any re-assessment on the system.

HoneyNutLoop

There are many reasons why payments could change. Normally though, whatever the reason, you would get a letter either confirming there had been a new calculation, or that the payment plan was changing, say because they are changing the arrears collection rate. Your best bet is to ask CMS. Anything else at this stage is just guesswork. Just try calling them again tomorrow.

AnxiousMum

Thanks - I am just curious as to why I haven't received any notification as to why it would be changing.......it sucks to get that information from your kid parroting his dad!

HoneyNutLoop

Maybe your letter's on route but delayed? Or it's a case of Chinese whispers?

AnxiousMum

Don't know - will find out tomorrow when they call back. Thing is I have offered to cancel CSA or CMS altogether....as long as we come up with an agreement as to how the one off extras for the kids will be paid for. He refuses to do this, just wants it cancelled or he'll carry on with his blagging to the kids.
Today his gas supply supposedly got cut off - blaming me and the CMS payments - even though I think to get it actualy cut off/disconnected he'd have had to have been not paying it for about six months or so, not the short couple of months that deductions have been made.
I wouldn't be surprised if it's chinese whispers - his 'reason' to the kid for his gas being disconnected....but shall find out tomorrow. If only he'd accept the arrears amount back, or come up with an alternative solution to CMS.....he needn't be in that position!

cte1111

It might be that the last payment was lower than it should be. This could be, for example, if he had been off sick, then his overall pay would decrease and the payroll people couldn't take the full amount on the DEO (as they have rules about how much they have to leave the employee to live after the DEO). The arrears would then increase, meaning larger payments for a while to attempt to address the growing arrears.

Perhaps try to explain to your son that your Dad owes money and has to pay it back out of his pay but when it's paid back, he will have more money again.

PreludeForTimeFeelers

cte1111 wrote: »

It might be that the last payment was lower than it should be. This could be, for example, if he had been off sick, then his overall pay would decrease and the payroll people couldn't take the full amount on the DEO (as they have rules about how much they have to leave the employee to live after the DEO). The arrears would then increase, meaning larger payments for a while to attempt to address the growing arrears.

Perhaps try to explain to your son that your Dad owes money and has to pay it back out of his pay but when it's paid back, he will have more money again.

That was my thought, perhaps some protected earnings had meant that he'd had a lower amount than scheduled deducted.

Is the case on the new CMS2012 system, or is it older (and therefore on CS2)?

mum2one

I'm wondering is its a case of chinese whispers, - maybe ex sees it as a one up on u.

The other trail of thought was April - payrise, - but need to be a big one for that amount, xx

going_nowhere_fast

I've no idea of the answer but I feel for you. What a horrible position he has put you in. If he was genuinly struggling, no matter how good or bad the relationship was with you surely he would be discussing it with you and the CSA not the child.

AnxiousMum

Thanks all, I'm waiting on my call back to see, and also to see if something shows up in my mail today as well.

He hasn't been off sick at all, and he's a teacher so hardly any pay increases have happened. The only thing I can think of is that he's been doing exam marking last year, and it's shown up on his end of year earnings this year - but we were together while the exam marking would've been going on, and I am only aware of about £500 extra that he earnt from that - maybe it was whole lot more - which doesn't make sense as he had no money then either.

At the end of the day - I've tried to be reasonable - offering him the arrears amount back each month (3 payments received) and he refuses, offered to cancel CMS if he and I can make a reasonable agreement as to what help is needed from each of us for extras for the boys. But he's digging his heels in and being stubborn - which I then have to look at what is most important for the kids - emotional well being, or being able to carry on doing some of the things they do.

I don't buy clothes except for work and even then they come from Primark, I cut my own hair, I've given up smoking 2 years ago to save money, I don't drink, I don't go out with friends to clubs, restaurants, bars etc. My car is necessary for work and for getting kids to and from where they need to be - and work wise - I get expenses so it doesn't cost me alot. There's not a lot I can cut back on - but will have to find something as if it's a relationship with my kids, or some financial help from their dad......I'll take the relationship with my kids.

Unfortunately, his extra money in his pocket will be given quite happy to the lottery fund - as it'll just get spent on scratch cards.

AnxiousMum

Just spoken with CSA...or CMS.....and they have no record of any letter going out with a new amount, no new assessment and confirmed his current assessment with me as it matches what is on their system. Sounds like he's lied to my son....and gotten the response he was hoping for