CSA - Contact expenses?

Hi,





I have just received a letter from the dreaded CSA, as I guess my ex wife wants to claim even more money from me.





Not content with moving half way up the country so I have to travel 240 miles one way !





Anyway enough ranting.





What I need to know is this.





According to the lovely glossy leaflet I received, I may be able to claim a "Variation" to deduct contact expenses off the amount I pay if they are more than £15 per week.





I visit my 2 children for a weekend every month and incur over £60 just getting there (so I guess I qualify)





I also then need a hotel for two nights + meals etc.





Has anyone in a similar situation, managed to get


A) The travel costs and


B)Hotel / Accomodation costs or


C)Cost of meals etc ?





Deducted from the amount they pay.





Lastly I work shifts. If I am ill I do not get paid shift pay, does anyone know if the CSA count shift pay as part of your Net earnings ?





Thanks in anticipation

CSA - Contact expenses?
we dont use the lbs system in america and our laws are prolly just a little different, but i did have the option to deduct my travel costs to and from seeing my children from the child support, but why would you do that? your child deserves the money that you give them to sustain there quality of life. now i am the first to say if the money hungry ex is trying to graft you out of every cent do everything you can to make it right. but for the child i see no reason to be as petty as deducting my expenses to go see them, i love seeing my children and i drive 600 miles once a month at least to be with them. thats the best ten hours and 60 bucks in gas i spend all month cause i get all excited cause i am about to be with my kids. of course on the way back is the worst ten hours and 60 bucks but hey i still am not gonna deduct the cost of me going to see my children from the money i pay to maintain there quality of life.
Reply:Well done for keeping in touch with your lovely kids - its a credit to men like you! No, the CSA dont take shifts into account, they assess by general means which is averaged out over a period of 12 months in the financial year. Yes you can ofset travelling but not accomodation and meal expenses otherwise you COULD stay in the Ritz couldn't you? lol All in all if you are struggling with the amount assessed or you think your wife is 'coming it' have your csa paid into an account for them only and given at a certain age in any event you are a good guy taking care of their future. Blessx
Reply:It's the kids who pay in the long run. I'm a bit bitter about this because my friend's ex has just got a deduction because he moved in with a single mother with two children. So if this applies to you, you can claim for this too.


So now she gets even more money deducted from her child support, her kids no longer have school dinners, football lessons or guitar lessons. But her ex-s children, who have two working parents already, do.


Be careful who pays. Because it's always the children who lose out.
Reply:UK - No you wont get a penny and stop asking as they are your children and your responsibility. My hubby got £100 per week deducted from his wages for a child that wasn't even his, when finalised he only got 3 months back, what about the other 2 years. Sorry to be mean but try not get involved in the CSA they cause too much trouble.
Reply:to be honest, im not really sure, but i do know that the csa want roughly about £20 out of every hundred u earn of ur net pay...

cyclamen