How can I pay a fair amount for my son and still retain some income?

15 thoughts on “How can I pay a fair amount for my son and still retain some income?”

1. Csa are a set of robbing bastards as are the ex’s that use them. A child needs a set minimum amount every month so why should it change if your wages go up ever so slightly or they take your overtime. Time and time again the robbing bastards have adjusted my figure just because I earn a little everytime I dont see why they have the right to. Four years or so I split from my ex and she phones them up regularly just to strir them to look at my wages she phones them up saying ive had a wage increase and bonuses anr what not…. even though I have had nothing like it but because they look into my wages and see ive done some overtime as I need it to survive they change my set amount for a higher figure which in return makes me struggle even more. Arsehole of a system run by a set of arseholes.

2. You need to get your mp to help you, write a letter of complaint, I write this letter more in hope than in expectation but it is with some regret that I must complain about the actions, or rather inactions of the child support agency and the way they have treated me and my family, explain exactly what you belive they have done to you regardless of whether they think it matters it does to you or you wouldt be writing the email to start with, (give details here of incomings and outgoings) doesnt matter if they dont want to see them put it all down , if you have had problems paying rent if your in debt because of these people put it all down, lay it on thick, then hit them hard with this legislation, copy and paste is probably easier
   Mention that you believe that they have made an Official Error. Ask the CSA for the decision to be set aside as they are not leaving you enough to live on and is going to cause you an injustice. This is based upon Regulation 55 of the Child Support Act (Maintenance Assessment Procedure) 1992
   http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/1813/made
   For those of you who are NRP’s with a new family and for NRPP’s whose children are suffering as a result of the CSA taking your tax credits and enforcing you into financial hardship /poverty because they are taking so much from your income, You may want to mention in your letter that the child support agency are supposed to be lifting children out of poverty and they are supposed to have the best interests of children – this is clearly not taking the welfare of the children into account after all The Children Act 1989 states. ..Any decisions made about a child’s welfare will be made with the child’s welfare given ‘paramount consideration’ and the Child support act 1991 Welfare of children: the general principle. Where, in any case which falls to be dealt with under this Act, the Secretary of State or any child support officer is considering the exercise of any discretionary power conferred by this Act, he shall have regard to the welfare of any child likely to be affected by his decision. . It is very clear that the CSA and the secretary of state are turning a blind eye to both acts and are not really bothered about the welfare of the children. The CSA are in breach of both acts and I would assume that they are in breach of the Child Poverty Act 2010 also. They are making the children of the NRP and their families homeless and destitute and allowing vindictive PWC’s to cause damage and use the agency to abuse the NRP. All the CSA staff are concerned about is reaching their ridiculously high targets set by the Secretary of state to ensure they get their bonus. Bonus’s and high targets should never be brought into the equation of a family break up or supporting children, it is a very sensitive matter and painful for both sides but most of all it is the children who are suffering. copy and paste the above as you need to, dont forget to go into details you can prove,
   Attach a copy of ALL your outgoings, even the things the CSA don’t allow for. after you have added the bits to the email that matter to you send it to all these people below

   [email protected]
   [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
   [email protected]
   [email protected]
   [email protected]
   [email protected]
   [email protected]
   [email protected]
   [email protected]
   [email protected] [email protected]
   [email protected]
   [email protected]
   [email protected]
   [email protected]
   [email protected]
   [email protected]
   BCC this email address: [email protected]

3. so does that mean that if the income goes down the set amount should therefore still be paid??

4. MP’s do not give a shit and not does the CSA I’m afraid.. Penalised for the rest of you’re life for getting out of a shitty relationship.. I don’t mind paying for my Daughter upkeep but my ex’s house is twice as big as mine and she’s living it up.. Joke!

5. @ Amanda no it means men are fed up of being financially raped every month and every payment the CSA are taking is being challenged, what we the normal folk who hate the CSA are saying is abroad it works pretty well that regardless of your income right across the country its a set amount of child support, a bit like child benefit, I will laugh my arse off when that is debated in parliament, the petition did quite well on this subject, cant think why

6. i hope it gets reduced to £10 a week per child, vouchers or supermarket cards given so people know for definite what there money is being spent on, it certainly wont be holidays or nights on the piss

7. @Michael – if you have a case with the CSA they will assess you on your income along with allowances for any children in your household and a reduction for shared care if your son stays overnight with you for 52 nights a year or more. The amount payable for 1 child is 15% of your net income. You should check you are getting the right allowances for children in your household and shared care if applicable.

   If your maintenance calculation is correct and you are paying regular maintenance only (no arrears) this is what you will be expected to pay whilst the case is open. If you and your ex are able to discuss the issue of child maintenance and come to a private agreement the case can be made Maintenance Direct – where the case remains open but payments are payed privately between yourself and your ex, and this payment can be at an amount agreed between you, for the case to be made MD both NRP and PWc must contact the agency to advise this has been agreed- or it can be closed at the PWCs request.

   @ Amanda – a re-assessment can be requested if the NRP’s income increases or decreases by more than 5% – if the income drops the new MC will be lower

8. Michel:- If your case has been open for 13 years then you might be on CS1 where the assessment is more complex than a straight % giving you housing costs and living allowances which should be detailed in your assessment letter.
   If the PWC is not in receipt of benefits or WTC it will also take account of their income and living costs.
   If your income increases or your housing costs decrease then maintenance liability will increase.

9. no it means men aren’t taking their responsibilities toward the kids they created seriously

10. @ lisa aren’t you a pwc?? as well as your now partner being a nrp you are very critical of the very same system you yourself use to get money form your ex aren’t ya …

11. bit harsh amanda? He says he has paid for 13 years. NRPs are not just walking wallet surrogate parents…they are still human beings with a right to a life, and to enjoy life (I can almost feel the groans from some PWCs lol) But seriously, just because you have a child and break up with the parent of your child, should not sentence you to a life of misery and poverty to prove you are taking being a parent seriously. So much more complex than that.

    This is not about childrens welfare, it is a source of unfair revenue and discrimination against NRPs in the process. When I had a child and was in at receipt of benefits, I was able to care for my child without the need for maintenence off the father (who yes, was not a dad, shall we say). Add a few hours work on top of that, and I was doing even better. To me, the father not even wanting to know his child, was him not taking his responsibility seriously. Had he been involved without financial support, I would have considered this a far greater way to show he was serious about fatherhood, which is all I wanted. I may have been only 20 back then, but jeez, I knew love wasnt about money.

12. @ Amanda yes I am, took the csa nearly 12 years to catch up with my ex whilst financially raping my husbands wage leaving my family without and my hubbys ex living a life of luxury at our expense, while my children had to live in poverty, sorry is that the answer you didt want to see

13. Took the idiots at csa nearly 12 years to find my ex he paid nothing, my hubby has had to financially support 2 families and his ex enjoying a champagne life whilst we were living in poverty and my children going without, not only did my ex have kids elsewhere that he paid for he also enjoyed foreign holidays and nice cars, didt put his hand in his pocket did he, so while he gets away with paying my hubby has always paid, the system is so wrong, all one sided, so yes Amanda that’s why my answers are the way they are, get over it

14. just so you know I don’t use the csa at all?? please get your facts straight before spouting shit, I wouldt use them if they were the last place on earth, full of scum

15. @ Amanda Just to add, I don’t use the CSA, nor would I after the way they have treated my family, so do us all a favour and get your facts straight