[Solved] CSA assessment review too much, need help to appea

Hi

I would go and see your MP as soon as possible to see if he/she can help. I assume you are on the CSA 1 scheme, so I'm not sure how these are calculated. I'll ask the CMO if they can suggest anyone you can go to for advice, but I fear that unless the CSA have calculated on the wrong basis, there isn't a great deal you can do.

Hi Oduntan

I am William the Child Maintenance Consultant. I understand you would like information on how to make an appeal to the Child Support Agency (CSA) regarding your new payment amount.

I can not answer any specific queries about CSA cases but I can point you in the right direction. You will need to contact the CSA and check with them that the information they hold on you is correct and ask them to explain how they have come to there decision. Their contact details can be found on any letter they have sent you, or this website https://www2.dwp.gov.uk/csa/v2/en/setup/apply-by-telephone.asp provides their contact details. You can find information on how to make an appeal by using the following link https://www.gov.uk/child-maintenance/appeal-a-decision.

We have a calculator available on our website at http://www.cmoptions.org/en/calculator, this can give you an indication of the amount of child maintenance that may be payable. You may wish to use the calculator to check the amount payable based on your details.

The CSA is just one option for child maintenance, if you and your child's mum can come to an agreement between yourselves, you could set up a family-based arrangement. There are no strict rules or formulas that you have to stick to when calculating your payments. It does not have to be just about you providing money, you could include other things for example provide clothing.

Family-based arrangements are not legally binding, however, they are quick and easy to set up. They are also completely private, meaning no-one else needs to get involved in your arrangement.

We have some useful tools and guides available to download from our website at http://www.cmoptions.org/en/toolbox/index.asp, which may help you agree a family-based arrangement. We have a child maintenance decisions guide, Information for parents living apart from their child and Discussion guide. These can help you understand your child maintenance choices and help you plan your conversation with you children's mum.

If this arrangement is not appropriate or does not work for you, you may wish to consider a Consent Order, this is an official ruling made by a court. This type of arrangement usually happens when parents are going to court for other reason, such as arranging a divorce or dividing assets.

We have a Sorting out separation web-app on our website at http://www.cmoptions.org/en/sortingoutseparation/index.asp. You may find this useful as it offers help and support to separated families on different thing such as finances and dealing with debt.

To find out more information about all the options available and how Child Maintenance Options can help you visit cmoptions.org or call us free on 0800 988 0988 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday or 9am and 4pm on Saturday.

Thanks