csa

[missy1981]

Im a single parent, my daughteris nearly 3 and im getting regular payments from the CSA each month, �40-�50 a month, which i assumed that that was how much her father had taken out of his wages.. but yet today, i found out that the CSA are taking out �180 a month off of him straight out of his wages, but i dont get that amount though. He assumed that i did and his family too, and i thought they were taking �50 as thats how much i am recieveing each month.... how does that work out then? why is he paying out that amount but im nowhere near getting that amount???.... Are we better off ditching the CSA and coming to an agreement ourselves??

[redcrx]

doesnt it depend on what other benefits you may be receiving from the government?
If you come to an agreement between yourselves then you will need to declare it as an income when claiming benefits too i think.

[Goodsoulette]

If you are receiving income support then thats where it is goiong. If you arent then yes you are better off coming to an agreement yourselves.

[kempie]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/Bfsl1/BenefitsAndFina ncialSupport/BenefitsAndFinancialSupportArticl es/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10018808&chk=PDrUGx

[missy1981]

Im in receipt of income support, child benefit and child tax credits.

[bednobs]

thats why then ... the goverment is taking the money from your ex to compensate it for having to pay you benefits. If you ditched the csa you would have to declare the money you are getting from your ex, and then you probablt wouldn't get the benefits (except family allowance or whatever it's called today)

[Goodsoulette]

and if you dont declare it or you dont give information about your partner you will only get poverty allowance.

[ummmm]

But if you get a job you'll be laughing. You get the maintenance, the tax credits, your wages and family allowance.

[chitchat]

Maintenance isnt taken into account for tax credits but you may find that because you are on benefits the CSA wont allow your ex to stop paying to them. Perhaps you should ring them and ask why there is such a large difference between the two amounts.

[Pippa68]

As has already been suggested, your ex is paying both an assessment for maintenance for your children, and another for the shortfall the DSS have for paying your tax credits/income support etc.

Also, if he has had arrears in the past which the DSS have previously paid to you anyway, he will be paying those arrears to the DSS.