Cannot pay what the CSA demands from us

December 28, 2012

So in need of advice.

My partner was paying CSA from his benifits up until a year ago when his benifts were stopped, CSA sent him a letter to state that they couldnt take payment & he notifed CSA that his benifts had stopped, theysaid he had to send in proof which he did.

He has now started working and they have said that he owes over £2000 in arrears I don’t understand how they have come to that amount for a year & I don’t understand how they have come to that amount if he was only paying £20 due to him being unemployed sure they should calculate the arreas at what he would of owed during that year.

He has no problem paying arreas but he can not pay £800 a month as that would live us homeless as that is more than half of his salary what can be do

Comments

  • chall says:

    Tina,

    How long after your OH benefits stopped did he notify the CSA of such?

    Were there arrears on the case prior to your OH being in receipt of benefits?

    Did he notify the CSA when he initially became unemployed and that he was in receipt of benefits?

    Your OH needs to establish how and when the agency have decided their arrears figure has arisen. He could apply for his Data Protection file. There is a £10 fee, but the agency should enclose all the info they hold on him.

    Your OH should be left with no less than 60% of his income (the CSA can take a max of 40%, including an amount for arrears).
    If you find making the repayments expected by the CSA difficult, you could prepare a household incoming and outgoing sheet and suggest a more reasonable monthly amount – keep copies of everything you send and post signed for.

    chall

  • Carol says:

    As Chall says CSA should leave your partner with 60% of his salary. If there were arrears from before they would stay in place and be collected once your partner is back in employment. You can negotiate with them on arrears, but not ongoing maintenance. Not a straight forward process though to negotiate with them!!

    Ask the CSA for a statement breakdown showing how they have arrived at the arrears. To get a copy of your file write to Data Protection Unit, CSA Newcastle requesting a copy of your file.

    Did your partner ever get a letter confirming his assessment had been reduced to nil when he was no longer claiming benefits and had no income?

  • Tina sixx says:

    Thank you both for your adivce !!

    He notified them staight away but men being men took the easy option of phoning so never put anything in writing, he says he got a letter saying that they know that hes no longer getting benifits but this has been misplaced hopefully this will be found as he always keeps important letters, solicitors letter regarding his fight for regular contact & bank stmts always..

    He has been in touch with them again & they say that the arreas are due to them being informed that he was self employed, which I suspect that the job centre has told them in order to fiddle there figures and the figures are worked out on a default figure.

    He was informed by someone their that was helpful to send in letters for the job center that states that he was no longer getting benefits and bank statements to prove he had no income coming in & I have mentioned that you guys have said to send this information & letter by recorded delivery.

    In fact just before he had found emloyment he got a letter saying that from September 2012 he had to start paying £5 and that he had no arreas and that was two wks before he got & started his new job.

  • >