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Original poster

CSA calculation - is this right?

185 replies

ticklemonster123 · 13/03/2015 12:20

DH's ex went to CSA asking them to recalculate his payments as she believed he'd got a pay rise. He hadn't, he's now in a more senior position but he no longer earns commission so he still earns a pretty similar salary.
He was asked to send his last two payslips, which he did, and now he's had the letter through saying his payments have gone down.
I've looked at the figures and they've calculated the figure based on his net salary, after childcare vouchers have been taken off.
Is that right?
He wasn't getting childcare vouchers the last time they assessed his payments, plus he now has a company car which comes off his tax and he puts more in to his pension so his take home pay is significantly less than it was previously, but his annual salary is roughly the same.

I think DH will probably just continue paying the original amount, after all he isn't actually earning less, but I just wondered whether it is right that they're working it out based on the figure after the childcare vouchers have come off his pay?

OP posts:
fedupbutfine · 13/03/2015 22:28

so basically, you're one of those new partners who does everything they can to justify piss poor behaviour towards the children - she earns more than us (even though I work part-time, she's the one who's 'greedy' and 'grabby' when I'm being supported by my partner), she has nice clothes, nice shoes, her house is crap, she doesn't spend money on the children, poor children always dressed in rags....somehow all of that makes it OK that only the minimum of maintenance is every paid and you're going to resent that as well. Slow hand clap from me.

jovialjulia · 13/03/2015 22:29

I think "she isn't obligated to pay" hits the nail on the head for most of these types of posts.

The stepmother's household and her husbands income is questioned and picked apart constantly whilst mum has no obligation to pay a shiny penny towards anything. Often, anyways.

jovialjulia · 13/03/2015 22:30

Who are you addressing fedup?

LadySybilLikesSloeGin · 13/03/2015 22:33

"The stepmother's household and her husbands income is questioned and picked apart constantly whilst mum has no obligation to pay a shiny penny towards anything."

Who do you think pays the lions share of raising that child, because it's certainly rarely the NRP. She's the one who will be charged with child neglect if she fails to provide food, clothes and a bed for that child whilst the NRP can do all they can to avoid contributing towards these and society lets them walk away.

SurlyCue · 13/03/2015 22:36

Well unless the OPs partner is covering the exes mortgage/rent, all the DCs food, energy bills, clubs, clothing, travel etc then yes, the mother is contributing to her DCs. If she wasnt then it would be neglect. The DCs wouldnt be eating or have a roof over their heads. If OP suspects they are being neglected then of course involve SS and have them investigate- that is absoloutely right to do if the children arent havjng their needs met. I dont think this is the case though? OP clarified that she doesnt thjnk they are being neglected so no, there is no need for any snooping into her finances or level of support to her dcs. Is there?

jovialjulia · 13/03/2015 22:36

Speaking for myself I am "one of those" mums who works full time, whilst raising a child. Receiving nothing at all from my ex. Married to a man who I fell in love with, partially, because of his utter dedication to his children. But who has often been humiliated by questioning from the CSA (at least once a year) because his ex (who hasn't had a paid job in her life) can't quite believe that he hasn't had a pay rise in five years and is bitterly disappointed by this.

Can only assume all that time sat on her arse at home all day( one child, 13 years old) hasn't quite given her the time to watch the news and clock on to how quite a few people haven't had a payrise recently.

LadySybilLikesSloeGin · 13/03/2015 22:40

How is she to know that he's telling the truth? How is she to know that he's not getting a shed load of overtime etc? Try and see it from her position. Yes, she can work to support herself and there's no reason why she can't (unless she's sick/disabled), but her income doesn't come into the equation. Whether she's working or not, 100% of the money that she has coming in goes on supporting that child in one way or another so it's only fair that the NRP pays a fair amount too.

jovialjulia · 13/03/2015 22:41

Am I really explaining this? Hmm

Because by virtue of having the children, in the UK at least, she doesn't have any obligation to earn a single penny. And rightly so (huge advocate of benefits and support for children) but the fact remains that mum (RP, but mum in most cases) isn't questioned but dad always is. Imagine having a letter sent to you which basically says "we can't quite believe your wage is still that shit. Is that really all you're sending as maintenance?" All the time just because your ex got a bee in their bonnet?

jovialjulia · 13/03/2015 22:42

She didn't even ask Sybil.

SurlyCue · 13/03/2015 22:42

Without having to go to the CSA behind his back so he feels investigated

It isnt "behind his back" (my ex used that line too after i'd spent months asking him for maintenance- apparently i was sleekid for doing that Hmm) CSA is a service specifically for the purpose of facilitating money transfer between the NRP and PWC. There is no "running to" or "behind backs". You dont have to get permission or agreement from your DCs other parent to speak to CSA. Do people think the same (that it is sneaky?) when spouses engage a solicitor upon divorce?

fedupbutfine · 13/03/2015 22:42

ah yes.....the ex who sits on her fat backside and does nothing for years.

Not personally ever met an ex who does that, myself included. I have, however, come across way too many new partners happy to stand by men who don't support their children...all in the name of 'but she earns more than us and she has a nice house (which she doesn't keep very well although how the fuck you would know that when you've never been within a mile of my front door is beyond me) and the children are dressed in rags and she has designer items and drinks vodka.....

Yawn.

jovialjulia · 13/03/2015 22:45

I didn't say any of that. I think that giant chip on your shoulder is affecting your vision.

SurlyCue · 13/03/2015 22:45

Why is your Dh humiliated? Confused he sends his payslips and thats that! Where is the humiliation?

jovialjulia · 13/03/2015 22:47

Come back when you've had a letter on your doorstep saying that it's been said that you earn more than you've admitted you do and the government want to check you're actually doing what you should for your children.

When you have always done so.

Hmm
LadySybilLikesSloeGin · 13/03/2015 22:48

If the mum becomes the NRP then the process will be exactly the same. Not all ex's are honest, maybe she's already asked before and was fed a load of lies? I don't know, I'm not her. Maybe she's had problems getting him to pay maintenance before so she's needed to use the CSA? If your step child is 13 then he'd have been born at the time when his mum couldn't claim income support unless she gave over the father's details so that he was assessed by the CSA. This would have been deducted from any income support she received.

Pantone363 · 13/03/2015 22:49

This thread is making me feel a bit ill

So many jealous bitter new wives out there who would happily take money off a child to get one over on the woman who got there first.

Yeah pay the lesser amount, fuck that bitch. The separate accounts posts just prove me right, I want to give you the money but not through your mother.....sad sad women

jovialjulia · 13/03/2015 22:50

They've been divorced five years so CM has never been taken into account.

fedupbutfine · 13/03/2015 22:50

My vision is just fine.

jovialjulia · 13/03/2015 22:51

Yes Pantone. It's the new wives who are bitter.

SurlyCue · 13/03/2015 22:52

you've had a letter on your doorstep saying that it's been said that you earn more than you've admitted you do and the government want to check you're actually doing what you should for your children.

On your doorstep, not the local paper! They arent taking an ad on tv telling your neighbours hes neglecting his kids. They arent asking him to post his salary on facebook. Getting those letters are irritating yes, but humiliating? Nah

jovialjulia · 13/03/2015 22:52

Not the first wives who hang out on the step parenting board Blush

jovialjulia · 13/03/2015 22:52

Like I say curly. When you've had it happen to you.

fedupbutfine · 13/03/2015 22:53

yes, coming from the new wife who believes she is qualified to comment on the ex's life choices and decide, based on that, whether maintenance should or should not be paid.

jovialjulia · 13/03/2015 22:54

I'm an ex wife too. Did you miss that? The two things aren't mutually exclusive. Ffs. Although I do accept that I had a child with a non ambitious man who couldn't support me and our child when we were together and sure as hell can't now.

itsbetterthanabox · 13/03/2015 22:55

This is more aimed at other posters. Your partner seems to be acting correctly.
This isn't a game it's support for her child. There is nothing wrong with her asking for a CSA recalculation too see if the minimum amount should go up. It's a minimum! The money is for the children so don't just drop it out of spite!