Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

Original poster

yet another csa thread.

27 replies

IneedAgoldenNickname · 15/03/2013 14:56

Hi, I've applied for maintenance via the Csa, as my ex wasn't always paying me, using excuses such as 'we had bills to pay/need things for the baby' the baby isn't even born yet, and I have bills too!

He told me that when he phones the csa they told him he'll only have to pay £5 per week, because he's on a low income. Now I appreciate that he needs to have enough to live on too BUT, he's just booked his cbt and bought a motorbike. Not sure how that's possible on such a low wage?

His gf is on benefits, and has a daughter with asd, who I assume she gets dla etc for. My friend said maybe the gf pays for all this stuff out of her benefits, but unless she's using the dla I don't see how she'd afford to. We both have 2DC, so surely she'll be getting the same amount of tc etc as me?

Then I read that the tax credits will be classed as his income and therefore used to assesses my payments?

I don't necessarily think they should be, but don't see why I should be struggling so much while he lives it up

OP posts:
Original poster
IneedAgoldenNickname · 15/03/2013 14:58

Sorry, hit post too soon.

Does anyone know if that income is included?

And just needed a rant!

OP posts:
Losingexcessweight · 15/03/2013 14:58

Ok .... Is your ex self employed?

Losingexcessweight · 15/03/2013 15:01

If the none resident parent lives with a partner that receives ctc and the person who claims the ctc is the highest earner in the house then yes they will be taken into account.

If your ex is the higher earner in the household and doesn't claim ctc but his partner does then the ctc will not be taken into account

Original poster
IneedAgoldenNickname · 15/03/2013 15:02

It's a bit complicated, he is contracted 15 hours per week in a shop. He also does overtime.
But he also had a gardening business with his mate. They are a registered company, but I don't know how much work he gets from there.

OP posts:
Original poster
IneedAgoldenNickname · 15/03/2013 15:03

Ah ok. The thing I read said if he wad the higher earner they did take them into account, and didn't mention who claims them

OP posts:
Losingexcessweight · 15/03/2013 15:06

For him to only have to pay you £5 per week, then he has to have a income of £100 or less.

The gardening business may be registered but he may be working cash in hand for his mate and not have his name on anything to do with the gardening business.

OptimisticPessimist · 15/03/2013 15:10

As I understand it (presuming they live together) child tax credits are classed as joint income and will be counted, but you will need to ensue the CSA ask for the information. Working tax credits depend on who is the higher earner, if the gf is then the WTC won't be counted, if they earn equal amounts then half will be counted, if your XP is the higher earner then the WTC will be counted. He will get a discount for any children resident with him, including his gf's children.

Original poster
IneedAgoldenNickname · 15/03/2013 15:11

As far as I know it's registered in both their names. I'm going to wait for the letter from the csa, because the man said if I don't think his lifestyle adds up, which I don't.

OP posts:
Losingexcessweight · 15/03/2013 15:13

It sounds like you ll be entitled to more than £5 per week.

NannyPlumIsMyMum · 15/03/2013 15:19

Do you really know that he's living it up or are you guessing?

I don't think the CSA does mothers OR fathers any favours.

My DH has supported his 2 children via them for the past decade .

Despite the fact that I'm disabled and too ill to work they have only ever taken my DHs earnings into account.

They have never taken into account the fact that their mother and stepfather are earning very good full time wages ... My DHs children had 3 full time wages supporting them.

Our children have been supported by 1 wage - my DHs wage and we have struggled desperately for food clothes and bills. Despite his ex thinking that we are having a ball going away on constant holidays . ( respite breaks due to my illness and due to fact that DH is in a carers role ).
Actually their perception of what was going on is very different from reality.

She begrudged us and our DC anything. As though my husband and his family were not entitled to have a chance of wellbeing/ happiness.

Original poster
IneedAgoldenNickname · 15/03/2013 15:29

Based on fb posts, and what he/his gf a daughter tellpeople I know, they think nothing of buying cereal at £5 per box, run 2 cars, have just bought a motorbike and everything that entails. He I'd always posting about his bottles of jd that he drinks.

Maybe not 'living it up' but certainly not struggling to pay the bills like I am.

OP posts:
Losingexcessweight · 15/03/2013 15:50

Theres definatly cash in hand work being done

Original poster
IneedAgoldenNickname · 15/03/2013 18:28

An I right in thinking then that, the csa can't do anything?

OP posts:
SoWhatIfImWorkingClass · 15/03/2013 18:39

Cereal being bought at £5.00 a box. How awful of them buying a box of cereal to feed the family for their breakfast. A lot of groceries are expensive unfortunately, and the bigger your family the more expensive it is. I don't think the fact they spent a fiver on some cereal is a bad thing.

As for CTC, yes they are included as assessable income when working child maintenance.

Original poster
IneedAgoldenNickname · 15/03/2013 19:01

Obviously I don't have a problem with them buying cereal to feed the family, but £5 a box? Seriously?

OP posts:
betterthanever · 15/03/2013 19:44

OP you are loosing support with the Cereal comment.
Does he earn more than £200 a week?
How does he pay for his accommodation? does he have a vehicle?
You need to speak to the CSA yourself they can explain everything.

Original poster
IneedAgoldenNickname · 15/03/2013 19:54

I accept I an being unfair about the cereal, just seems odd that he can tell me he can't afford to pay maintenance if he can afford such expensive food, but maybe that's life.

Yes he runs a car, as does his gf, plus he's just bought a motorbike. So he's runnings 2 vehicles. He claims to earn less than £100 per week, but his lifestyle doesn't reflect that which is what I was wondering about.

I'm waiting to hear from the csa, just wanted some opinions really.

OP posts:
betterthanever · 15/03/2013 19:59

Tell the CSA about the vehicles, ask how he pays for his house and other main items - he `has a right to be believed' (I know it's rubbish) so you will probably have to provide the evidence of these things.

Original poster
IneedAgoldenNickname · 15/03/2013 20:02

Thanks. I have evidence of his business, and a friends is screen shotting everything he posts of fb about his expensive purchases.

OP posts:
betterthanever · 15/03/2013 20:11

The CSA can check with HMRC although if it's cash in hand you are stuffed.

Original poster
IneedAgoldenNickname · 15/03/2013 20:15

That's what I thought. Grrr, I'm more annoyed that he seems happy to see his children go without tbh.

OP posts:
Losingexcessweight · 17/03/2013 10:16

I understand why you mentioned the cereal.

The can afford to buy basic stuff at double the price that is necessary, abit like not bothering about the price of things whilst you watch every penny because he refuses to contribute financially.

It is infuriating.

Original poster
IneedAgoldenNickname · 17/03/2013 13:52

Yes that's exactly it losing, it's the expensive cereal on top of the private baby scan and motor bike they've paid for on the last fortnight. I think the cereal was just the top of the iceberg so to speak.

Well hopefully I'll hear from the csa this week :)

OP posts:
blackeyedsusan · 17/03/2013 19:32

£5 a box for cereal? Shock 31p or 75pin morrisons..

Original poster
IneedAgoldenNickname · 17/03/2013 19:55

Lucky charms! I don't think there's a cheap version of them.

That's ok, he bought them home today with a whole chocolate cake, then told me it's only for them! This is despite the fact that I have in the past sent sweets/cakes to his house for them all. Not sure why I wrote that really, it's irrelevant to the OP!

OP posts: