I am really struggling with the CSA
I am messaging because I am really struggling with csa. i have had constant problems. I originally went to them at my ex partnersrequest as he wanted to do everything official.
In the last 3 and half yr I only get a payment if I ring and ask them to release it even though he pays evey month by deduction of earnings order I never get regualr payments or even monthly and now because my ex partner has put in a form voluntarily to say he has had an increase in wages they have done work and sent august and octobers payments back to him and only part paid sept as they are aying there has been a overpayment to me though I have no access to the money and only receive the amount that they said I was entitled to and like I said i havent received them every month even though my ex partner ha paid every month.
They say their is no independant body I can complain to I cant have access to the records of payments to me I cant appeal this decision or have some one tell me how it has been reached and unlike the absent partner who can pay any underpayments to me in arrears of £24 per calendar month the parent who raises the child has to loose their income outright is there anything I can do ep as I dont want the increase I just want the missing payments sent to me and a regualar date with out the stress
4 thoughts on “I am really struggling with the CSA”
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If your partner is happy to pay but wants to cover his back and do it all officially then you can go “maintenance direct”. So you both have to sign a document agreeing that you are going to do this and the case is left open so either of you can go back to the manual assessment if you like. Then the NRP would pay direct into your bank account. If at any point your not happy you can cancel the arrangement but for however long you are going “maintenance direct” for there can be no arrears for the NRP.
Here’s the wording for the NRP to sign and one below it for the PWC to sign. Send them both together by recorded delivery to the office that’s dealing with your case.and you should then be free to handle it yourself but within the context of the CSA.
Dear Sir
Ref: XXXXXXXXXX NRP: XXX XXX PWC: XXX XXX
I understand that I can request that my case with the agency be moved to maintenance direct. This would involve the agency maintaining the calculation but no other collections methods would be used.
XXX XXX and I have agreed a sum of money that I will be paying directly to her for the foreseeable future.
I therefore ask that this be taken as my official request to move the case to maintenance direct as of today and that no further action is to be taken against me for collections purposes.
Yours
PWC to sign
Dear Sir
Ref: XXXXXXXXXX PWC : XXX XXX NRP : XXX XXX
I understand that I can request that my case with the agency be moved to maintenance direct. This would involve the agency maintaining the calculation but no other collections methods would be used.
XXX XXX and I have agreed a sum of money that he will be paying directly to me for the foreseeable future.
I therefore ask that this be taken as my official request to move the case to maintenance direct as of today, and that no further action is to be taken against the non resident parent for collections purposes.
Yours
I would suggest not to agree to the above – go to your MP – everything in writing – sent recorded delivery to the CSA, keep records of calls – i.e. dates, time and who you spoke to. Also join the facebook groups Child Support Agencies Failings and others for support and advice. Its free and there are many who are suffering and many who have gained help with this free advice. Good luck.
Sure as a way to get back what is owed from the past but moving forward and disengaging from the CSA it’s better to go maintenance direct as both sides are covered.
have you been told at any point why the money is being held back? The system is set to automatically pay the money out when it is scheduled to be paid to the PWC unless there is a hold put on the payments – ask them to check if the case is ‘held’ at either person or case level, if it is ask them to investigate why and have this removed if there is no valid reason.
There should be no overpayment by the NRP if he is paying less than his assessment and accruing arrears
If your partner has reported a change in his circumstances (higher income) the CSA have to do a re-assessment, this is part of the legislation and it is not up to the PWC to decide if they wish this done or not.
I would suggest that both yourself and your ex request client statements right back to the start of the case – this will show him what has been charged and what has been paid by him (amounts and dates), yours will show what was due and what was paid (amounts and dates) – his will also show any refunds made to him. If you can compare yours to his and can see delays in releasing the payments to you and refunds where there are arrears then you have clear evidence that things have not been done correctly and a justifiable complaint.
If you are happy to receive the money due to you direct from your ex partner then a Maintenance Direct agreement is a good idea – you can actually arrange this over the phone as long as both yourself and your ex contact the agency. Any missed payments when on MD cannot be collected by the CSA. If MD agreement breaks down for any reason either NRP or PWC can contact the CSA by phone and request that the case be moved back to Agency collection.