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right heres the shortish version, i have 3 boys to my ex which i dont have any contact with (ex is a nightmare) im on low income and my new partner is working full time but still not on good money but more than me, the csa want nearly 7k in arrears from 2011 they have used child tax credits and working tax credits that my partner gets to come up with this un affordable figure, im also going bankrupt due to other financial pressures already lost my house etc im having a nightmare now they want me to send they payment proof from 2011 to present day to re assess, i only got the letter a few days ago and they want the paperwork by wednesday this week, my income is very low already they just dont seem to care, can anyone give me any advice before they send bailiffs thanks :boohoo:
Go to see your MP as soon as you possibly can - ideally you need a sensible way of paying the arrears.
Bailliffs appointed by the CSA have very limited powers - assuming they haven't been into your property in the past, they do not have the right to enter your property unless they are invited in, HOWEVER, the invitation can be seen as an open window or door, so as silly as it sounds, do not open the door to them, and speak to them either through the letter box, or from an upstairs window - I know it sounds daft, but if you do that, they cannot enter the house. However, this doesn't resolve the arrears, so you need to be speaking or writing to the CSA with a schedule to try to repay the arrears as best you can. Unfortunately, going bankrupt doesn't put the CSA in the same category as other creditors.
thanks for the reply but can they use the child and working tax credits that my partner gts as she is the higher earner thanks again
Hi Widge.
Thank you for your post. I am William the Child Maintenance Options consultant.
We are a different organisation to the Child Support Agency (CSA), but I will try and point you in the right direction.
You mention that you do not have contact with your boys, child maintenance and contact are not linked in law. Therefore difficulties over one should not disrupt arrangements for the other. If you have got any concerns over contact you may wish to get in touch with the following organisations who are experts in this area:
National Family Mediation is a network of local not-for-profit family mediation services in England and Wales
Telephone: 0300 4000 636
Opening: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Website: http://www.nfm.org.uk
Centre for Separated Families provides advice and support to parents and other people experiencing family separation.
Website: http://www.separatedfamilies.info.
You also ask if the CSA can use the tax credits your partner receives when they calculate your maintenance payments. In answer to your question, they would take in to account any Child or Working Tax Credits that you, or your new partner, may receive. This is because it is classed as a household income.
The only time Working Tax Credits would not be taken into account is if your new partner is the main earner in your household. However, Child Tax Credits are always taken into account.
I understand that you are under financial pressure at this time. However, payments in respect of child maintenance are for the benefit of your boys and are considered a priority one debt, which means that they should be paid before a range of other bills.
The CSA is allowed by law to make deductions in respect of child maintenance directly from your earnings and the maximum they can deduct is 40% of your earnings.
As actd has suggested, you will need to speak to the CSA to arrange a payment schedule. Their contact details can be found on any letter they have sent you, or this website http://www.gov.uk/child-support-agency provides their contact details.
- Samaritans – call 116 123
- Shout – text the word ‘Shout’ to 85258
