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Hi -
I was just after some advice with regards the CSA and payments. I have a 6-year old daughter who lives with her mother. I currently see her after school (for approx 2.5 hours) on Tues and Thurs. I also have her from Sat (around 14:00) till Sunday - 18:30.
So effectively she stays over at my house 1 night per week. I have recently bee lucky enough to find a job (currently 3 days a week soon to be full time.) Prior to this I was unemployed and before that self-employed.
For some time now, I have been paying from between £7 / week when self-employed on low income to £5 / week when unemployed.
My question is this. Am I right in thinking that..
1. Regardless how much I pay the CSA - my ex-partner will only receive a fixed amount
2. The CSA are entitled legally to take 15% of my Net income
3, If I come to an arrangement with my ex-partner, I can pay her directly and the CSA will no longer be involved ?
If this is the case, I may be able to convince my ex, that I can give her more than she gets from the CSA and that we should come to an arrangement.
Any adive would be much appreciated 🙂
Many thanks.
Dave.
Hi
The CSA pay everything you get to your ex, they don't keep anything back. You correct that they take 15% of your takehome pay, assuming you earn more than £100 per week, otherwise it's £5 per week. They should also reduce the payments by 1/7th because you have care for 52 days a year or more (ie one day per week).
I can see no advantage to you coming to an arrangement to pay your ex more than the CSA minimum to dispense with the use of the CSA - there is the advantage that using the CSA, all payments are recorded so there can be no dispute, but you are correct in that you are certainly able to come to an arrangement and pay directly if you both agree to it.
Thanks for the reply. Does make you wonder - after all 15% seems like an arbitrary amount and in no way reflects what could be considered a "fair" amount to pay towards your child's welfare ?
Don't get me wrong, I want to help in any way with my child's upbringing - however -
a what point does it become simply financing the mothers lifestyle ? So I take it the amount is not capped at any point ?
Thanks..
Dave.
I think there may be a cap, but I think it's at a high level (I think it used to be about £2000 per month - so you're taking 6 figure salaries). The idea was, I think, to come up with a system that could be easily sorted out and administered, rather than a case-by-case assessment by the courts etc.
I can see the logic in the ease on the admin, however- in the long run - I think its a terrible idea. Now I know that she is probably already claiming for another child from another partner. Not sure exactly how much - but based on these calculations - probably receiving £70-£80 / Week.
If I then pay her about the same, thats not a bad little income £160 / Week + whatever else she is getting from Social Security - that aint a bad little deal.
At the moment she is living with her partner (of about 18 months) and last year had a baby with him. Neither of them work. They are living in a 3-bedroom semi-detached council house with a big garden - 2 cars. Not bad for people that don't work I think you will admit 😉 .
Don't get me wrong, of course the children need to come first - but would be nice if someone were able to bring some common sense to the situation.
Anyway, thanks for the replies anyway , much appreciated. Looks like we are just gong to have to grin and bare it 🙂 .
Cheers..
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