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Original poster

CSA calculation incorrect?

12 replies

Greatfulguest · 14/08/2025 20:29

I have recently set up child maintenance through CSA as I realised amount I agreed to my ex partner paying actually fell below minimum living wage and couldn’t possibly be correct.

I have now received the calculations and they seem completely incorrect. I have spoken to CSA and they hide behind the fact all calculations are performed through an automated system.

Here are the CSA’s calculations in comparison to my own. Could anyone confirm I am correct, or enlighten me on anything I am missing.

(Ex has second child which he pays maintenance for so I’m aware he pays me 8% of gross pay. He does not have the child often enough to be awarded any sort of discount which is stated on the calculation, although I noted lack of overtime, I haven’t used that in my calculations only the basic annual gross pay)

CSA calculation incorrect?
OP posts:
unicornsarereal72 · 14/08/2025 20:37

Are they doing a deduction of earnings? SO you have to pay 4% of what you get?

Sparkle123r · 15/08/2025 06:32

Your calcs are wrong as it wouldn't be based on a 4 weekly amount. They have used the correct weekly income for the calc.

£25019.66/365x7= £479.83

In general a new application would be 365 days of maintenance divided by 12.

So £38.39/7= £5.48 daily rate
£5.48×365= 2,000.2
£2000.20/12 =£166.68 a month

However you mention your ex has another child. If that case is open via the CMS, your case will align to the existing case for it's Annual Review. I think that's what is here. Check your Calculation letter and the start date of your claim and when the annual review is.

Based on a calculation of £38.39 with a monthly payment of £149.33, this would work out to be 327 days of Maintenance.

£149.33×12 = 1,791.96
1,791.96/£5.48 daily rate = 327 days.

The other scenario is that if your case is collect and pay, your letter will only show you the Maintenance due to Annual Review and not include the arrears due prior to the calc date. So again potentially it's 327 days from the date of calc to Annual Review. It will said unpaid maintenance amount on your letter

You need to check your letters for the dates.

bunnyapple4 · 15/08/2025 08:33

They seem to make it up as they go on long to be honest. And are utterly useless at actually getting the other parent to pay. I’ve given up.

Danikm151 · 15/08/2025 11:07

A weekly amount would be multiplied by 4.3/4.2 depending on leap year to give the monthly amount.

Original poster
Greatfulguest · 15/08/2025 17:31

unicornsarereal72 · 14/08/2025 20:37

Are they doing a deduction of earnings? SO you have to pay 4% of what you get?

No they are just giving us the calculations, they are not providing the collection service, so ex isn’t paying an extra 20% and I’m not having 4% deducted.

OP posts:
Original poster
Greatfulguest · 15/08/2025 17:32

unicornsarereal72 · 14/08/2025 20:37

Are they doing a deduction of earnings? SO you have to pay 4% of what you get?

No they are just giving us the calculations, they are not providing the collection service, so ex isn’t paying an extra 20% and I’m not having 4% deducted.

OP posts:
Snorlaxo · 15/08/2025 17:34

Is he self employed?

Original poster
Greatfulguest · 15/08/2025 17:38

Sparkle123r · 15/08/2025 06:32

Your calcs are wrong as it wouldn't be based on a 4 weekly amount. They have used the correct weekly income for the calc.

£25019.66/365x7= £479.83

In general a new application would be 365 days of maintenance divided by 12.

So £38.39/7= £5.48 daily rate
£5.48×365= 2,000.2
£2000.20/12 =£166.68 a month

However you mention your ex has another child. If that case is open via the CMS, your case will align to the existing case for it's Annual Review. I think that's what is here. Check your Calculation letter and the start date of your claim and when the annual review is.

Based on a calculation of £38.39 with a monthly payment of £149.33, this would work out to be 327 days of Maintenance.

£149.33×12 = 1,791.96
1,791.96/£5.48 daily rate = 327 days.

The other scenario is that if your case is collect and pay, your letter will only show you the Maintenance due to Annual Review and not include the arrears due prior to the calc date. So again potentially it's 327 days from the date of calc to Annual Review. It will said unpaid maintenance amount on your letter

You need to check your letters for the dates.

Agreed I had devided gross annual by 52 to get weekly, a year is actually 52.14, so thank you for pointing that out.
however you’re coming out with same figure as me give or take some lose change (£166 per month)

OP posts:
Original poster
Greatfulguest · 15/08/2025 17:39

Sparkle123r · 15/08/2025 06:32

Your calcs are wrong as it wouldn't be based on a 4 weekly amount. They have used the correct weekly income for the calc.

£25019.66/365x7= £479.83

In general a new application would be 365 days of maintenance divided by 12.

So £38.39/7= £5.48 daily rate
£5.48×365= 2,000.2
£2000.20/12 =£166.68 a month

However you mention your ex has another child. If that case is open via the CMS, your case will align to the existing case for it's Annual Review. I think that's what is here. Check your Calculation letter and the start date of your claim and when the annual review is.

Based on a calculation of £38.39 with a monthly payment of £149.33, this would work out to be 327 days of Maintenance.

£149.33×12 = 1,791.96
1,791.96/£5.48 daily rate = 327 days.

The other scenario is that if your case is collect and pay, your letter will only show you the Maintenance due to Annual Review and not include the arrears due prior to the calc date. So again potentially it's 327 days from the date of calc to Annual Review. It will said unpaid maintenance amount on your letter

You need to check your letters for the dates.

Agreed I had divided gross annual by 52 to get weekly, a year is actually 52.14, so thank you for pointing that out.
however you’re coming out with same figure as me give or take some lose change (£166 per month)

OP posts:
Ohmygodthepain · 15/08/2025 17:55

CMS calculate weekly.

Multiply your payment by 52 then divide by 12 (took months of explaining this to my ex as he swore he only had to pay 4 week's payment per calendar month...)

£25019.66 x 8% = £2001.57 annual sum due.

£2001.57 / 52 = £38.49 per week (not sure where their maths went wrong, I make this the same as you)

£2001.57 / 12 = £166.80 per calendar month

There aren't 4 weeks in a month which would make it £153.96 - your ex needs to pay the annual amount divided by 12. Or be an utter dick and pay every week/4 weekly.

As I said, it took my ex months of explaining this. Figure out the total amount due per year and then divide by 12. You'll be short a day's worth of maintenance every year but this is the equivalent of 2p a day.

Ohmygodthepain · 15/08/2025 17:56

Are the CMS stipulating it's a weekly, monthly or annual sum required?

Sparkle123r · 16/08/2025 00:37

Greatfulguest · 15/08/2025 17:39

Agreed I had divided gross annual by 52 to get weekly, a year is actually 52.14, so thank you for pointing that out.
however you’re coming out with same figure as me give or take some lose change (£166 per month)

Show quote history

Have you checked the dates on your letter though? Check the date your liability is from and the date of the annual review. Im pretty sure it's not £166 because your calculation is not for 365 days. I think it's 327 days based on your figures because his existing case will determine when the annual review is.

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