CSA Payments

[elizabethrose]

Does anyone know what happens to CSA payments if the absent parent has been laid off? I've not received my payment this month, and I'm wondering if this is why. I can survive without it for a few months, but if this is long term I will certainly feel the pinch!

Laid off due to COVID-19 I mean.

Not sure I'm wondering the same thing. I'm taking it as if we don't get paid we dont.

Not saying it's right or fair though. Just it wouldn't surprise me

Paymentholiday for 3 months for those that have been laid off or lost their job.

It’s on their website.

Thanks I didn't know that for sure.

I've not been on their website, just my payment portal. My finances will totally collapse if there's a 3 months break. I wasn't particularly worried before I thought about CSA payments. We are non-contact so I wouldn't know until the payment is missing, like it is today.

I don't think you would get a payment if he loses his job.

I would send CMS a message from your portal. I'm assuming if he is unemployed now he would have to notify them of that to get the three month break as it's only if nrp has been laid off.

Yes, lay offs and redundancy. If he lost his job pre coronavirus then you wouldn’t have got a payment either as it is a percentage of income.

Aren’t working tax credits going up in April? Should cover some of the shortfall.

@LouQoo I don't qualify for tax credits.

Thought it was worth mentioning for those that do qualify.

I dont mean to be rude but you shouldn't be counting on this money to the extent you are.

Yes you are absolutely entitled to it, that isn't what I'm saying. But you shouldn't be financially dependent on that money because of things like this that might happen in life.

I'd suggest you look for a better paying job.

@Frankola I'm an NHS Director, I don't need a higher paid job. The CSA payments I receive is split into the child's savings account, and to ensure they are clothed, fed and are able to enjoy their extra activities. I went 8 years without receiving a penny, so I can certainly survive without it, but it would have meant cutting down on their activities. As it turns out, all their activities are cancelled anyway, and we're hardly spending anything whilst in lockdown. Please don't be so quick to judge.

@elizabethrose I was very clear in my previous post that I was not being rude or judgemental. Please do not accuse me of those things.

In your post you say you can "survive without it" for a short time. Which to me implies you are using the payments as a means to survive financially. This is very clearly not the case given your response to me.

In your response you've actually said that some of that money doesnt go on essentials like food or bills etc so your post is not descriptive of the harsh reality many single parents find themselves in.

What you spend the maintenance money on is your business but your likely real life situation doesnt gel with the implied situation in your original post I'm afraid.

Ex CSA employee. You only get paid what is received.

@Frankola I did realise after what I posted that I had been a little ranty, but you can't use an edit function on her so I do apologise.

The harsh reality you mention really was me. I had my home repossessed and we moved to a mother and baby unit. The house was auctioned, leaving a £30K deficit which I am still paying off today. I jumped because you told me to get a higher paid job. The reality is I've paid a fortune in nursery fees to ensure I can keep working my way up the NHS ladder, whilst receiving no financial help. For the last 6 years, I didn't qualify for tax credits either. So my salary pays for our necessities, CSA payments have enabled the kids to have some treats over the last 12 months.

Now my salary has to pay for our bills, cover debts left etc so I was worried how I would cover everything. But I gave my head a wobble and put some things on hold.

I do appreciate the situation other mothers will be in, as I was there myself and if money doesn't come in (which it hasn't) I need to ensure everything can be covered.

@elizabethrose I agree this situation is horrible for everyone. It's a very scary and uncertain time.

I'm sorry to hear you have been through such an awful time. But you seem to have come through that in a really positive way and you've done fantastic for yourself so you should be very proud of your achievements. You are setting a fantastic example for your kids.

Unfortunately, just like prior to Covid, if the paying parent has bo income, then they cant pay. If they apply and receive benefits then you will get the minimum amount (£7 pw I think), but that might not be processed until things return to some semblance of normality. And even worse that many non resident parents will likely not qualify for benefits.

But simply it's impossible to pay without any money being recieved by the paying parent. Its shit, and unfair as resident parents still have to pay the Bill's, housing, child related costs, but the reality is money cant be magiced up.