Hi all, newbie here so please bare with me.
Have been paying csa now for 5 years now.
Recently had an email asking why one months wages were higher than normal
( basically work for nhs and had to do training over a weekend )
Currently at a point where like most I pay rent, have debt etc and currently up for my review.
Now I believe csa don’t take any of the above into account.
Can I ask from people that are in the know do they take overtime into account? Even if it isn’t regular? If I do have to do overtime in my role it’s not voluntary. I can’t say no to it due to nature of the job ( patient care etc )
I’ve never missed csa payments and let’s say relationship with the mother is not good at all.
I’m 34...have basically zero pension and through a recent loss in the family have started thinking more about my future.
I’ve read that having a private pension will reduce csa payments.
Do they not take into account a pension with the company also?
Also I’m confused with notifying them of increase in salary? Do I only do this if I get a pay increase greater than 25%
Appreciate any help as I currently cannot get hold of anyone from csa on the phone.
hi,
yes unfortunately if you work over-time, get pay rises or bonuses, this will increase your gross earnings, and for next annual review you would have to pay more maintenance.
their book explains how it works and gives examples:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-we-work-out-child-maintenance/how-we-work-out-child-maintenance
you should let them know as soon as your income increases or decreases by 25%. to be on safe side I would let them know if you get pay rise/over-time, even if its not 25% more. if you have questions you could ask them on the portal:
https://childmaintenanceservice.direct.gov.uk/onlinerevive/public/landing-screen
Yes they take pensions into account. mentioned in their booklet.
Hi appreciate the reply.
Though what if the overtime was just a one off to do with training?
As I don’t know when or how much the overtime hours will be there’s no sure way to inform them of such
hi,
you could wait for payslip to come through ,that should show extra hours worked. then could send that to them through the portal page. others on this forum mentioned that they once spoke to CMS and the call handler had the latest payslip info right in front of them.
Any overtime worked is added to your annual P60 figure, and this is what you wil be assessed on. Unless your income drops by 25% or more, then you can’t apply for a reconsideration
Yes pension payments are taken off, so it’s essentially earnings minus pension contributions. As you work for the NHS I would of thought they would of had some kind of workplace pension?
Hi homer
Unfortunately any overtime you do will be considered at annual review as your new gross salary even if it was done as a one off.
Its just the way it works..
Yeah that is rather bonkers. It was mandatory I had to do the overtime as it was training ( and due to covid restrictions in the hospital ) the weekend was the only time deemed reasonable to carry out the training due to patient flow being reduced on the weekend. ( so followed inline with government guidelines in regards to amount of people in a given room/area )
So as you say csa won’t take that into consideration?
Yeah it seems they have access to my
Monthly income as stated in the email they sent.
Trouble is trying to get hold of them to speak to someone. They’re on reduced hours and I can’t get through to them during my lunch breaks although staying on hold for ages.
Never had much luck with the representatives I’ve spoken to from csa. They have already made up their minds I’m a dead brat whose trying to avoid paying.
Have never missed a single payment
hi,
they won't exclude the overtime. it will be added to your gross income. some dads had to pay more for having company car, fuel allowance.
if you don't want to pay more in maintenance, in future you could ask your employer can you have time off in lieu instead of over-time pay.
I am a bit puzzled by this. Homerdude seems to be saying that without it being re-assessment time, or it breaching the 25% rule for the year, that CMS has picked up on one Payslip which has higher income and contacted him.
If that is what they are now doing, it is a very worrying thing, to think they are looking at every individual payslip. Plus, even though this one payslip may be over 25% for the month in question, it wont be close to 25% for the year, so should not be enforced anyway.
Homerdude - are you sure this email has come out of the blue based on one pay slip and it is not coinciding with your annual review time?
In relation to the pension, I assume that NHS must do a workplace pension or equivalent - in which case definitely do this rather than a private pension - for the normal workplace pension, you put in 4% and your employer puts in 3% - you won't get that employer contribution for a private pension. In addition, unless you are on benefits, as for your pension to be dealt with as a salary sacrifice - there is additional benefit to you in that you don't pay national insurance on your pension amount. You can also overpay beyond the 4% if you choose to do so.