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CSA advice forum » Child Support Agency

1. scared
   Member
   
   

   My partner had a little girl 9 years ago. Her mother has caused us nothing but expense and grief for the past 7 years. We have spent in excess of £5000 going through the courts to be able to see her for the mother to just turn around and say you are not seeing her anymore. Knowing for well that we could not afford to take her back to court, she then upped and moved and hasn't been seen since.

   We have always paid the CSA payments never missed a single one. Even had to phone up CSA when the mother started to refuse to accept the cheque from us anymore so scared we rung them to be put on hold for an hour. Eventually they made arrangments for DD direct to them.

   It seems she has now got back in touch with the CSA after 4 years of not seeing my partners daughter. She has 3 children in total is married and has spent most of her life living on the dole. I am absolutly petrified as to what this going to do to us, as hard working people.

   We have a 3 year old daughter who we have to pay £700 a month to go to childcare just so we can work, knowing that when she starts school it will be worthwhile. I have heard that the CSA will take 40 % of his wage but this will leave us with nothing to survive on. It will also mean that although we are looking after his other daughter and the rest of the family we will not be able to support our own daughter. I am petrified because I know that the CSA penalises you for not seeing the non resident child, even though this wasn't through any fault of our own.

   I am not sleeping properly at the moment as the thought has made me sick to my stomach. I do not understand how the CSA can justify taking money to leave another child in poverty. I am not shirking any responsibilities but I am scared for my family.

   Posted 1 year ago #

2. Indeego
   Member
   
   

   I am a little confused by what you are saying as you make reference to never missing a payment for the child, but also state about how they can take 40% of wage.
   BUT if I read it as I think there should be no reason to worry.
   Basically I am seeing this as there is one child that you do not see that CSA is paid for, this has always been paid therefore no arrears are due. The mention of a total of 3 children the ex has I assume your partner is not the father to 2 of them, therefore is not liable for those 2. You and your partner have a child at home with you.
   If all this is correct you have no fears.

   You reference 40% the CSA can take, they only do this if there are arrears to be paid and that is the maximum they can take, however, if you have been paying all this time and no arrears, just because she has gotten in touch with the CSA again, will not change any payments. Basically your partner will pay 15% of take home for this 1 child, but as there is a child at home the first 15% of take home will not be included.

   Basically and as an example, say take home is £300 a week, the first 15% is discounted so the calculation is based upon £255, at 15% for the 1 child is £38.25 per week payable, and that is it.
   There is a maintenance calculator on the CSA website that you can use to etablish a fairly precise figure for your circumstances, but essentially if you have been honest to the CSA about earnings, have been paying without fault, that will continue to be the case at the amount set by the CSA.

   If my thoughts and assumptions are incorrect, my apologies and please feel free to add in any other details to clear any situation up, otherwise, th very best of luck and good for you for not wanting to avoid responsibilities.

   Posted 1 year ago #

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