New system question

skibadee

My husband is still being assessed under the old system....could anyone tell me if like the old system the new system takes into account total household income ie., any wages I might earn......I know under the old system although they alledge not to take partners wages into account for assessment purposes......once the maintenance assessment has been made the total amount to be paid by NRP is calculated on total household income.

kelloggs36

Under the new system new partner income is totally ignored. HOwever, if you have children and you get child tax credits, then they are counted towards the NRP income. If you get working tax credits but are the lower earner, then the NRP also has this added to their income.

It is not quite true that the total amount to be paid is CALCULATED on household income, it is determined whether the calculated amount payable can be afforded from the total household income.

skibadee

I'm sorry but I think that amounts to the same........the total amount to be paid maynot be calculated on household income but if for instance the calculated amount payable by a NRP was £70 on their income alone and then taking into account exempt and protected income that parent could only pay £50....the amount of extra household income ie., by NRP's partners wages....then up's the amount payable.........so if anyone thinks a NRP's partners income is not taken into account..as the CSA constently insist it isn't......then I suggest they think again!!

kelloggs36

However, the calculated amount in your example was £70 so if the NRP is only paying £50, they are paying a REDUCED amount of maintenance. By moving in with a partner who works, the household income is much higher thus the extra £20 payable (which only incidentally ensures they pay the full amount) still leaves the household better off than the NRP would be if they were a single person.

Strapped

I understand what kelloggs is saying, but I agree with skibadee. If my husband lived on his own, his CSA liability would be some £200 less a month than he is currently paying (for one child!) I think that his ex would get a shock if I decided to give up work.

Strapped

And to answer the original question, I believe that the new system is a straight % of the NRP's income. Unfortunately, can't seem to get switched over.

skibadee

Exactly Strapped!!.......so how can they say they don't take partners income into account........we can't get moved over to new system either.

kelloggs36

Strapped wrote: »

I understand what kelloggs is saying, but I agree with skibadee. If my husband lived on his own, his CSA liability would be some £200 less a month than he is currently paying (for one child!) I think that his ex would get a shock if I decided to give up work.

In your case, however in many cases where the NRP is not paying a reduced rate as a single person then the NRP partner income has absolutely NO effect whatsoever.

Strapped

Yep, in our case. Which (if I'm brutally honest) is the one I most care about

kelloggs36

Which is of course natural. However, there is a myth which surrounds the CSA which is that partners always increase assessments and this just is not true.

MAXIME_3

I am under the old system and have been told I will not go into the new system until it is set up and even then it will take ages. At the moment I am assessed after they deduct my mortgage repayment and half my pension payment. Does anyone know how you are assessed under the new system. Do they just take a percentage of the gross with no notice taken of your overheads. I have two children and believe under the new system they take 25% of my salary but I do not know if this is after taking consideration of my overheads.