Arrears

pd001

I earn £650.00 take home per month
I live in lodgings paying £80.00 per week for my room.
My children have left school and I owe quite a lot of money to the csa which I have no objection to paying back.
What is the maximum that the csa can take from me. Do they have a to leave me a certain sum of money to live on after paying my rent

Mr_Green_Genes

They have no duty to leave you with any particular sum after paying your rent. They may tell you that the law says that you must pay the arrears off in 2 years. That's a common lie they tell people, the law says no such thing, it's just a departmental policy with no legal backing. They may also tell you that they have to take 40% of your income. This is another lie they're fond of. The reality is that arrears are negotiable. That is what the law says. Don't let them get away with lying to you.

pd001

So they dont have to leave me anything to live on after paying my rent? How can this be correct

Mr_Green_Genes

They're not the remotest bit interested in you. They don't care if you live or die. Welcome to 21st century Britain.

kelloggs36

If you have no ongoing liability for maintenance and only have arrears then you are in a good negotiating position. Ideally they want the arrears paid within 2 years (although they can't legally enforce this but they will try and tell you it is law). If you can do this, then you will be fine. Otherwise, the max is 40% of your net income, so in your case it would be £60 per week, which in a month is £260 which does leave you enough to pay your rent.

pd001

kelloggs36 wrote: »

If you have no ongoing liability for maintenance and only have arrears then you are in a good negotiating position. Ideally they want the arrears paid within 2 years (although they can't legally enforce this but they will try and tell you it is law). If you can do this, then you will be fine. Otherwise, the max is 40% of your net income, so in your case it would be £60 per week, which in a month is £260 which does leave you enough to pay your rent.

so that would leave me about 50 quid a month to live on. Looks like i will be better off giving up work and becoming homeless.

NAR

pd001 wrote: »

so that would leave me about 50 quid a month to live on. Looks like i will be better off giving up work and becoming homeless.

You didn't pay what was owed to your children, so whose fault is that? Why should they have to wait on money owed to them because you want to pay over a time period suitable to you? Sorry no sympathy here!

Mr_Green_Genes

NAR wrote: »

You didn't pay what was owed to your children, so whose fault is that? Why should they have to wait on money owed to them because you want to pay over a time period suitable to you? Sorry no sympathy here!

Somewhat misplaced lack of sympathy though. If the OP gives up work, there will be no money (or £5 per week max) for maintenance. Who benefits from that? The only winner under those circumstances would be someone who isn't interested in getting the best practical outcome, but merely scoring a few cheap points.

pd001

oi you! yes you! NAR! Get real!!
Are you stupid? Did I ask for sympathy?
I was just stating a fact. I owe arrears, and I don't mind paying what I owe. I did clearly say that in my first post! Read it again! If I am left with only 50 quid a month to live on there is no point working. That is a fact! I dont mind becoming homeless, I have been homeless before

NAR

pd001 wrote: »

oi you! yes you! NAR! Get real!!
Are you stupid? Did I ask for sympathy?
I was just stating a fact. I owe arrears, and I don't mind paying what I owe. I did clearly say that in my first post! Read it again! If I am left with only 50 quid a month to live on there is no point working. That is a fact! I dont mind becoming homeless, I have been homeless before

I did read your post and I stated "Why should they have to wait on money owed to them because you want to pay over a time period suitable to you?"
Your children didn't cause the problem did they?
The arrears won't be written off no matter what action you take.

pd001

Read it again and again and again until you fully understand what i have written.
Did I mention that I want the arrears written off? I want to pay what I owe! It's simple. I cant live on 50 quid per month