The rates on CMEC will be based on Gross income;

12% for one child

16% for two children

19% for three or more children

As you have just been reffered to the CSA you will be under the ‘new’ system.

I recently got sent to the CSA by my ex after paying her privately for the last 5 years. The CSA were actually quite helpful..they said they could not back date any payments but would start collecting from me from the first day they wrote to me.

Also, I heard horror stories about my ex getting a cut from my wife – this is incorrect, under the new system the CSA will not touch my other half’s income.

Be sure to include the fact that you have three children living with you. You pay 15% of your net income (after Income tax, pension contributions etc) if the blood test shows you are indeed the father. As I understand it with 3 kids living with you the CSA will not take into account 25% of your net income – i.e you will pay 15% of 75% of what you take home per week (about 11% of your net income).

Hope this helps,

Stu

I have a new baby on the way with my new partner, I have a son with her all ready. I am still not seeing ny children from my first marriage and i am stil paying for them £760.00 per month (inc arrears due to the CSA cock ups).

I live in Council house after leaving my marriage with only the shirt on my back. Everything my new partner and I have is begged or borrowed. I am in danger of being made redundant, so this means I lose my car.

My ex wife gets everything paid for by the goverment and me. I am back in the family court for the 3rd time, to try and gain access to my children. She has destroyed any relationship that I had with them. I dont know what to say to them if I do eventually see them. She stopped me making phone calls to the as well. They are 10 and 5, I am dead to them ( or I feel that way).

I sit in my car on the way home from work and find myself crying my heart out.

I have been arrested twice for made up allegations by my ex, and gone to court the latest one was last week for harrasment. The CPS dropped the case as there was no case to answer! But for safe measure I get a restrainig order against me. I couldnt afford a solicitor so I got tripped up by hers, who the goverment paid for!!

The Strain that this has put on my new partner and me is immense, but it has made us stronger. I believe that when you are made you are 2 souls, that go their seperate ways, and you spend an eternity looking for your twin soul. Well I have been lucky and have found mine.

I hope that I can just stay strong for her.

As a punchy ex boxer I say to all those parents out there in the same situation.

Keep your head down, your gaurd up and dont let the bastards grind you down!

As Michael has correctly advised, your travel costs could be taken into consideration. However, you will only be able to have travel costs OR shared care award taken into account for the maintenance calculation.

The CSA will take all travel expenses to have access with your children into consideration when you fill out a variations form. This will reduce your payments.

HOWEVER – they will tell the mother this, and tell her that she can keep her CSA payments higher by refusing you access to your children. This could cause you to lose all access as a result.

If you have a really good and trusting relationship with your ex, then ask for a variations form. Otherwise, you might want to grin and bear it just to keep up contact.