To ask about CSA changes - is anyone happy?

[pennypinchingnamechanger]

Sorry not a very exciting AIBU but just a topic of discussion I thought others might be interested in...

Everything I have read on here so far about the new Child Maintenance changes, moving from CSA to CMS, the charges, the new rules etc has been negative.

We will be better off financially under CMS rules.

AIBU to ask if anyone else will benefit from the changes too?

How will we be better off under CMS rules when they are intending to make a charge for a substandard service?

I personally resent beyond words having to pay because my GS's father had to be forced to pay. I cannot go to him direct because if he is not forced, he will not pay, simple as. He is also a violent abusive thug who any remote contact with brings about a fresh spate of abuse and threats of violence. What on earth are they thinking of?

I would rather take less than the pittance I get than make a direct agreement which has failed each time in the past.

If I have missed something here and they have come up with a miraculous new system which places the child first, please do let me know.

Interested to know how will you be better off with the new cms?

We are better off as my other half is currently deemed by CSa to be the non resident (paying) parent.

New rules (CS3) for CMS state that in cases of shared care where the care of the child is shared equally non resident parents will be given a zero assessment. So my partner won't pay anything at all, which is much fairer than the current system.

Penny, that's great as it's always been unfair that 50/50 care required either to pay child support.

I don't see the big fuss over being charged. Most services carry a charge so it's no difference. Why should the state fund a service as somebody had a child with another and they now can't agree support themselves? Fair enough when child support was offset against benefits as that made sense but to do it for free is not worth it as it doesn't do a thing for the government to justify it.

I'm pwc for our dd, he wants nothing to do with her. Pays on an attachment of earnings because he has no choice and mine will go down plus I will have to pay out. I see nothing to be happy about.

How much money will that save your DH?

We're in a similar situation, 50:50 care, but DH pays CM. If DH stopped paying CM his ex wouldn't be able to pay her bills. He wouldn't do that to his kids.

It's not 'just a small fee' though Happy. The payer will have to pay an extra 20%

I thought the CSA took that onboard when care is split, i don't know I only know how system fails from parent that its failed to collect monies even wiping out debt, with new system no point ever even trying again so its a win win situation for the absent parent.

No maintenance for shared care cases is fine when both parties share the costs of school uniforms, school dinners, trips and all other expenses equally. The reality is this often doesn't happen and one parent will probably still have the burden only now without any recourse to claim support.

The BBC says it's 4% for the person receiving the money not 20%. Hardly a horrendous charge for using a service provider.

But why should I have to pay because someone else is trying to evade their responsibilities. The parents refusing to pay should shoulder the entire cost.

Happy

There is £20 application fee (unless you apply now)

Paying parent pays 20% fee
Collecting parent pays 4% fee

So if you are late applying, you pay £20. No excuse really to be late in applying then. The fee shouldn't be higher for the paying person though so it should be 12% each, whilst some have to be forced to pay there are lots of PWC who use the CSA as a tool against the NRP and the NRP was already paying.

I thought the csa adjusted how much had to be paid based on how many overnights there are?

CSA have ordered my ex to pay £5 per week, ex managed this for 3 weeks out of the last 13. I shan't hold my breath that the CSA will manage to get me it anytime soon.

Tbh is happily pay 4% (according to the website I would get £7 per week under cms rates) if I actually got some money!

By late applying they mean after the charges come in. So I take it your suggestion is don't break up or have a child born after that date.

I don't think there is anything wrong with a small charge. It probably won't even cover the cost of the service in any case. So it is still be subsidised.

neverhappymummyofone talking shite as usual without even knowing what she's talking about. As long as she gets to stick the boot in to women.

I don't think there is anything wrong with a small charge. It probably won't even cover the cost of the service in any case. So it is still be subsidised.

You do realise the PWC charge comes out of the child's money? You are saying it's fine to charge children to receive their own money from a parent?

Working parents don't get CTC, they may get WTC if their income is low enough. I agree the CB amount should be deducted from the non recipient's share of the costs but it shouldn't be that one parent can just abdicate responsibility for costs.

To be honest we've been paying for years and have only got 2 yrs left and we'd be happy to set up a private agreement. If they got rid of the people on their books like us they'd be able to concentrate on the people that don't want to pay.
I actually don't think charging is a bad idea, it is a service at the end of the day.
If it is a 4% charge then surely 96% of something is better than 100% of nothing. I'm hoping if things do change they will focus on those trying to avoid payments!

Well that's darn lovely of your DH mutton- we can't afford to help ex with her bills out of the goodness of our hearts.

Currently CSA take into account the number of nights and reduce the liability for shared care. However, the highest bracket they use for reduction is 175+ nights a year, so in exactly 50:50 shared care whichever parent has the Child Benefit can still claim maintenance.