NRP and a CSA Assessment Problem

BARGAINHUNTER!

Buster1874 wrote: »

You hit the nail on the head about risking the relationship. How do I find out exactly what should be covered by a CSA agreement?

You are legally required to pay no more than the amount the CSA say. You are only paying the amount you are because of your high salary. If you earnt less you would be paying less as its based on a percentage of your salary. Whatever you agree to pay on top of that is between you and your ex and you are by no means obliged to do so. As an example, I don't go through the CSA to get my maintenance payments from my ex, but he shows me his P60 each year and we use the CSA calculators as a guide as to what he should pay. We have agreed that any other big expenditure will be split (eg school trips etc) but I buy the majority of the clothes shopping for example out of the maintenance money. Occasionally, the kids will come home from spending some time with their Dad with something new (football, t-shirt for eg), but that is purely his choice to treat them. The way i view the maintenance money is that this money is to be spent on the children, keeping a roof over their heads, food in their belly, shoes on their feet and clothes on their back. What is left goes on day to day expenditure for them.

Please remember that your ex will also be getting child benefit for two kids (about £120 a month I think) and im not sure if she will get any tax credits. If you are receiving threatening phonecalls, record them and go to the police - that really is apauling!!

BARGAINHUNTER!

Buster1874 wrote: »

I had a thought...treat my daughter at Uni as if she was 17...and then make it 25% of my takehome, but split 2/3 to the ex and 1/3 to my daughter at uni...

If I were your ex I would be quite happy to see it that way, but unfortunately she has involved the CSA and it is their responsibility to ensure that you pay for your two youngest. Your 19 year old is no longer a child and does not come into the equation as far as CSA are concerned.

What about paying your ex the amount the CSA say, and stop making any extra payments (pocket money, phones etc) and give your daughter at uni a fixed amount per month. You said you were paying out £800 a month, so thats £650 to the ex for the upkeep of the younger two and £150 to the oldest whilst she is at uni. Thats still the same as you are paying now, just distributing it slightly differently!!

kelloggs36

Unfortunately you have no choice - the CSA assessment is enforceable in law so you must pay it whether you like it or not. It is true that they don't take account of your personal circumstances - unless you have any children under 18 (as long as they are in school) living with you, in which case you should get a discount - they could be your new partner's children????

As for the threats, all you can do is rise above them. Do what you need to do legally but don't get drawn into any unnecessary conversations. I would however, explain to your daughters what the situation is - you may find them more sympathetic, particularly if you can prove that you are paying. They may see their mother in a different light and ask her for some more money!

kelloggs36

Unfortunately you have no choice - the CSA assessment is enforceable in law so you must pay it whether you like it or not. It is true that they don't take account of your personal circumstances - unless you have any children under 18 (as long as they are in school) living with you, in which case you should get a discount - they could be your new partner's children????

As for the threats, all you can do is rise above them. Do what you need to do legally but don't get drawn into any unnecessary conversations. I would however, explain to your daughters what the situation is - you may find them more sympathetic, particularly if you can prove that you are paying. They may see their mother in a different light and ask her for some more money! The sad fact of the matter is, that you have no legal obligation to support your daughter whilst she is at university, and so this would be seen as a voluntary payment. Whilst you may wish to continue to support her, you need to consider your own needs as well - something has to give and you are between a rock and a hard place at the moment. I do have sympathy, but you won't win any fight if the assessment is correct.

kelloggs36

Sorry about the duplicate post - I pressed the post reply too quick, before I had finished!!

Loopy_Girl

kelloggs36 wrote: »

Sorry about the duplicate post - I pressed the post reply too quick, before I had finished!!

Thank goodness...here's me thinking I had had too much wine!!!:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: