Salary changed but CSA still want money as if I was paid more
I am currently in pay with the csa. last week the 25th April my employer called me in to a meeting where he explain the company is struggling to pay the bills and would have to start some redundancys. I was offered a choice between redundancy or a pay cut starting from the 1st of April. i agreed to the pay cut as i don’t think i will find employment else were any time soon.
This reduced my wage by 1/3. i contacted the csa immediately to let them know and inform them it would be a back dated change of pay. they have now told me i will have to pay the rate assessed on my old wage until the 25th as this is when i told them. I explained that i could not have told them earlier and if they take to full assessment this will severely reduce my income further but they say its not their problem.
Surely as their legislation says they can only take 15% over the year they cant do this or would at least have to make a refund at the end of the year?
Any help would be greatly appreciated as i feel now like they are steeling from me.
3 thoughts on “Salary changed but CSA still want money as if I was paid more”
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You will have to send in your wage slips. Contact them again to make sure it is recorded that you have a reduced income as they can only reduce the assessment from the date they were notified and their telephone records are not always the best. Also confirm it in writing just in case.
The CSA will amend your ongoing maintenance once they see your salary has reduced and you will effectively have overpaid but like you say just now until they re-assess you will pay the higher amount.
It just seams very unfair to make me pay for money i have not earnt. they are saying they do not have to refund this or anything. my understanding was that they can take a max of 15% over the year? would they not have to refund any overpayment when i have my P46 showng i did not earn that much?
Would your employer give you a letter confirming your salary just now? The CSA would argue that they cannot change anything until they have been formally notified. We have just went through the same thing as my partner was on sick pay. He had to pay the full amount he was due (pays via DEO) and the CSA couldn’t reduce the assessment until they received confirmation of wage reduction and only backdate that to the date they were originally notified. In the meantime he had to pay higher maintenance. They may reduce your payment if you are not in arrears. My partner is unfortunately so that was what happened with him.