CSA question.

[Russ]

What does CSA money pay for?

i.e. if Child (A) lives with parent(1), and parent(2) pays maintenance, and (1) wants to buy (A) new clothes, do they ask (2) for money towards the cost, or is that what (2) pays for in the first place?

[BlackDwarf]

I believe the CSA has sort of been disbanded, but here's my understanding.
Parent 1 is getting benefits of some kind (child, tax credits, whatever). CSA steal 15% of Parent 2's hard-earned wages at source, regardless of circumstances. Parent 1 sees very little of this money, and on top of that, looses benefit entitlements.
It was basically a filthy, asshat-ish way of reclaiming money back for benefit payments.

A friend of mine has an agreement with her ex-husband that he pays for various things for the child, and never got the CSA involved because they just F things up.

[chuckskull]

CSA money pays for the CSA and heartache.

To actually answer your question, theoretically, the CSA payments should be paying for what the child needs, but in my experience this is rarely the case. I'd recommend working it out directly with the mother if at all possible.

[dave87]

This for you Russ?


Worth speaking to the CAB, they generally know their stuff - they were a massive help for my sister when she had issues with an NHS bursary & other benefit issues.

[Phage]

A friend of mine has an agreement with her ex-husband that he pays for various things for the child, and never got the CSA involved because they just F things up.

This is pretty much what we did. A monthly cheque + extras by arrangement.

[Russ]

Thanks guys.

Chuckskull - thanks (2) is trying too.

[BobF64]

One thing I learnt years ago from a co-worker is that the CSA don't care what arrangements you've made, if it's just a casual rather than legal arrangement, they don't care and will impose their own charges.

However, this was a few years ago, so I don't know how much of that applies any more, and it was the CSA barging in to recoup the other sides government handouts.

[Demonwar]

I believe the CSA has sort of been disbanded, but here's my understanding.
Parent 1 is getting benefits of some kind (child, tax credits, whatever). CSA steal 15% of Parent 2's hard-earned wages at source, regardless of circumstances. Parent 1 sees very little of this money, and on top of that, looses benefit entitlements.
It was basically a filthy, asshat-ish way of reclaiming money back for benefit payments.

A friend of mine has an agreement with her ex-husband that he pays for various things for the child, and never got the CSA involved because they just F things up.

You are very misinformed.

The CSA doesn't steal money at source for no reason and isn't stealing as it's been accessed from the information given by the parent. That's taken probably months in some cases years to actually get in place due to the parent's non-payment, attachment of earnings is one away from a court order and bailiffs getting involved.

Of course the other parent sees all of the money they are due, the usual reason for extra money is the expense of the arrangement which could of been avoided in the first place.

CSA payments aren't considered in benefit claims at all.

[Blitzen]

You are very misinformed.

The CSA doesn't steal money at source for no reason and isn't stealing as it's been accessed from the information given by the parent. That's taken probably months in some cases years to actually get in place due to the parent's non-payment, attachment of earnings is one away from a court order and bailiffs getting involved.

Of course the other parent sees all of the money they are due, the usual reason for extra money is the expense of the arrangement which could of been avoided in the first place.

CSA payments aren't considered in benefit claims at all.

It's YOU that is very misinformed.
The CSA are daylight thieves.

I paid upwards of £500 per month (which was fine), but i have a second family with a severely disabled daughter, and they take a cut from her Disability Allowance to support my son who i do not live with.

Please don't comment on things you blatantly know FA about.

[Barry]

wtf Blitzen, DLA is your daughters and they should not be touching it at all, I'd kick right off if that was me

They shouldn't even be counting DLA as income

[HalloweenJack]

CSA are a pointless waste of time and a huge bunch of thieveing asshats.

my boys mum did a runner and left me when the youngest was 7 weeks old (this was years ago)

CSA didnt want to know


a random woman claimed i was the father to her baby? had an attachment to earning order made.... and had to sue the CSA to get it removed when after 1 DNA test i wasnt the father - then had to sue again to get my money back; at last count the CSA has something like 300 CCJ`s against them

[Copperwings]

From professional experience, the Child Support Agency aren't thieves or the spawn of Satan. They are, however, totally inefficient, incompetent and probably the most hopeless UK government agency (and that's saying something!!!)

For the benefit of the OP, if you'd like some info on how Child Maintenance works, the Child Maintenance Options website is full of useful information and even a maintenance calculator http://www.cmoptions.org/.

[Zak33]

guys.. this thread keeps coming to the top, and while it's good to debate, pls be careful with resurrecting posts, as it needs to assist with the subject rather than just cause more stir.