Child support agency

[legs]

If you have ever had to deal with the CSA you will know that they are very hard to deal with. They are trying to improve the system but have alot of work to do!! Did you know it cost the Australian Gov't $2.70 to collect every $1.00 Wouldn't it be easier to pay it for us???? . I am not against paying Child Support and have paid every cent asked of me for over a decade. But I believe we pay too much as my daughter gets more than a dole recipitant and my ex doesn't spend a cent of it on her.
So does anyone have any tips to dealing eith the agency that we may not have heard of?? Or any easy ways to reduce our payments??
Any ideas, comments or suggestions are most welcome.

 

[constable]

If you have ever had to deal with the CSA you will know that they are very hard to deal with. They are trying to improve the system but have alot of work to do!! Did you know it cost the Australian Gov't $2.70 to collect every $1.00 Wouldn't it be easier to pay it for us???? . I am not against paying Child Support and have paid every cent asked of me for over a decade. But I believe we pay too much as my daughter gets more than a dole recipitant and my ex doesn't spend a cent of it on her.
So does anyone have any tips to dealing eith the agency that we may not have heard of?? Or any easy ways to reduce our payments??
Any ideas, comments or suggestions are most welcome.

Become a subcontractor/start your own company and pay yourself a minimum wage or better yet dont pay yourself at all!

 

[legs]

Become a subcontractor/start your own company and pay yourself a minimum wage or better yet dont pay yourself at all!

Ahhh the old cash in hand situation... i would but my current job pays way too much to leave...

 

[Sprinter79]

My

As a past recipient of 'child support', i think its a farce. The money from the owing parent (usually the father) should go into the child's account, rather than the other parent. Or, at the very least, there should be a ratio set by the family court that states that a certain amount goes straight to the child.

 

[legs]

My

As a past recipient of 'child support', i think its a farce. The money from the owing parent (usually the father) should go into the child's account, rather than the other parent. Or, at the very least, there should be a ratio set by the family court that states that a certain amount goes straight to the child.

Paying parents should be able to specify that a percentage of money has to be spent on education and receipts provided if requested... also as it is to maintain a lifestyle that they had in the previous married/de facto relationship.... if they played sport, music, etc, that should continue as well with proof if requested. Maybe have a limit of 2 requests a year???

 

[cashcow]

I commend whoever initiated the overhaul of the Family Law system that's underway at the moment. Long overdue, and a step in the right direction for all parties I reckon.

 

[legs]

I commend whoever initiated the overhaul of the Family Law system that's underway at the moment. Long overdue, and a step in the right direction for all parties I reckon.

I agree but i don't believe enough has been done. More needs to be done to make sure the money goes to what it should go to.. not to the pokies, cars, alcohol, holidays or anything else...it is meant to maintain the standard of living, the childs, not the partners who left. Its up to them to find funds to maintain their lifestyle if they wish too.

 

[cashcow]

Like I said, a step in the right direction. To be fair, though, almost anything is better than the abomination that has presided for the last 20 years or so.

 

[misterS]

Legs - I believe the CSA will approve payment of school fees direct by you instead of via the other party and reduce direct payments by that much. Same goes for other lessons and stuff and even buying clothes etc. But you have to clear it first.

I share your situation and could have rented them their own house with the payment levels. Interesting to see how much the govt. pays for the care of dependent children of people on benefits versus how much you have to pay for the care of a child.

However, you have to be careful not to antagonise the other party and lose even though you win - if you know what I mean. I found it better to keep the ex sweet and even pay for extra things and focus on the relationship with the children and max out the time arrangements without getting embroiled in blues about money and support (well, not entirely - but if you give in quick it's short, lol)

Of course this pre-supposes that you are in that happy situation - a lot of men have been denied the basic human right of even seeing their own children, whether through their own mistakes, the spite of other parties or a combination.

One unexpected consolation of breaking up has been spending time alone with them and being able to sustain a close relationship on your own terms and have a laugh. Lots of guys with their wives don't get much of a look-in with their kids.

 

[legs]

Legs - I believe the CSA will approve payment of school fees direct by you instead of via the other party and reduce direct payments by that much. Same goes for other lessons and stuff and even buying clothes etc. But you have to clear it first.

I share your situation and could have rented them their own house with the payment levels. Interesting to see how much the govt. pays for the care of dependent children of people on benefits versus how much you have to pay for the care of a child.

However, you have to be careful not to antagonise the other party and lose even though you win - if you know what I mean. I found it better to keep the ex sweet and even pay for extra things and focus on the relationship with the children and max out the time arrangements without getting embroiled in blues about money and support (well, not entirely - but if you give in quick it's short, lol)

Of course this pre-supposes that you are in that happy situation - a lot of men have been denied the basic human right of even seeing their own children, whether through their own mistakes, the spite of other parties or a combination.

One unexpected consolation of breaking up has been spending time alone with them and being able to sustain a close relationship on your own terms and have a laugh. Lots of guys with their wives don't get much of a look-in with their kids.

Your right on alot of levels their mate but as you said you have to get agreeance to make those payments.. She doesn't agree as she says my money is dirt and is too stubborn to use it. I can do the school payments but they dont reduce your payments by the total amount only a percentage of it until the next financial year. Therefore I refuse to pay the fees and only receive a small reduction, even for a few months. She won't support my school of choice anyhow and probably pull her from there anyhow.
The ex still hates me with a passion. I have no idea why still...I can only think that its because she left because her mother told her i could not afford to support a family on what i was making. Now i make twice what she and her new husband make, and i think it gets to her!! I dont brag, she sees my taxable income thru the agency each year.
My daughter loves our visits and we are very close. Especially now as we had a child this last year and she adores her. Thats the most important to me. My Family.

 

[Absolutely]

One unexpected consolation of breaking up has been spending time alone with them and being able to sustain a close relationship on your own terms and have a laugh. Lots of guys with their wives don't get much of a look-in with their kids.

Yeah well this is where I am trying to get to right now - time alone with my kids - and the ex is fighting it. Mostly because she doesn't like the idea of spending a weekend on her own whilst the kids are with me I believe. Looks like I will be heading to court over this as she refuses to let me have them. I go to a mediation session on Friday - if no result I start proceedings.

So, guess who's getting all my hard earned profits - the lawyers.

 

[Freeballinginawetsuit]

Yeah well this is where I am trying to get to right now - time alone with my kids - and the ex is fighting it. Mostly because she doesn't like the idea of spending a weekend on her own whilst the kids are with me I believe. Looks like I will be heading to court over this as she refuses to let me have them. I got to a mediation session of Friday - if no result I start proceedings.

So, guess who's getting all my hard earned profits - the lawyers.

I spent 3 years in the Family Court system, all the way through the hearing stages and then to a trial date, only for the ex to fold on the trial day.

If you hang in there youre kids will be better off for it. I have shared parenting of my son now, a week about with the ex and half all the school holidays. Also a full say in his schooling, welfare and development.

The court system is an abysmal failure of parenting but some times its the only option, especially when the other parent considers that youre rights to youre child are non existent and entirely on there say so!.

Hang in there mate, Lawyers are a waste of money but necessary and when it comes to youre kids and being an active parent in there up bringing..........who really cares how much it costs

 

[Absolutely]

Well I find myself issuing proceedings for time with my kids today. First comes to court in early Jan. Shame it had to come to this. My ex believes the only role I should play in the upbringing of my kids is the odd few hours at my place every second weekend. No overnight time, no holiday time..............!!Well she is extremely unlikely to succeed with that in court I am told.

But the thing that has really got me pissed off today is that she has applied for legal aid and been granted it. Now, when we sold our house about a year ago she received a $120,000 payout. Since then I have been paying child support at well over $2000 per month. She also gets government assistance at about $1700 per month.

It turns out that she has paid the $120,000 in to her mothers account. So of course it's now not being recorded as money belonging to my ex. Not only that, but the interest she is receiving is not being recorded as income on her tax return, and therefore, I potentially could be paying a higher rate of child support then I should. I don't mind paying child support - I love my kids a lot - but it needs to be done fairly.

Spoken to a few agencies today - ATO, CSA and Centrelink - they are all saying "there's nothing we can do, your ex might be just repaying a loan or giving a gift to her mother". Clearly not the case.

Seems terribly unfair if it isn't unfair enough already, having to go through all this just to get reasonable time with my children.

 

[jackson8]

i am afraid that we live in a society where there is little respect for the input that fathers should be able to have with their children
men are treated guilty of all manner of things that an ex may say about them and we have little recourse
the family court is a joke and unless you have tens of thousands of dollars to fight an ongoing battle that more than likely you will never win , especially if an ex doesnt want you to see the children they can say whatever they wish about you and you are treated guilty unless you have enough money to buy your innocence

as for the csa they are responsible for more trouble and breaking up of relationships than any good that they may percieve that they do

as for family court lawyers . they are as vampires feeding of us until there is nothing left and even then will give false hope to keep bleeding the life out of last drop of blood

 

[Absolutely]

Jackson you sound like you are talking from experience?

I agree with you regarding the CSA and lawyers.

But I am lead to believe that the courts are much more supportive of fathers now and that potentially equal time is very achievable.

I am just trying to get the standard every second weekend at this stage - then we will tackle equal time or week about!

 

[legs]

Jackson you sound like you are talking from experience?

I agree with you regarding the CSA and lawyers.

But I am lead to believe that the courts are much more supportive of fathers now and that potentially equal time is very achievable.

I am just trying to get the standard every second weekend at this stage - then we will tackle equal time or week about!

You better hope your ex hasn't got to your kids yet...My daughter ended up saying one weekend is for staying at her mums house, one weekend at her granparents house, one for her friends and one for me. It was all my solicitor needed to hear and after a forensic psych was called into investigate it, I was left with one weekend a month.
Dont believe that the courts are more equal these days. It took me 8 yrs to get an overnight stay!!

 

[legs]

Well I find myself issuing proceedings for time with my kids today. First comes to court in early Jan. Shame it had to come to this. My ex believes the only role I should play in the upbringing of my kids is the odd few hours at my place every second weekend. No overnight time, no holiday time..............!!Well she is extremely unlikely to succeed with that in court I am told.

But the thing that has really got me pissed off today is that she has applied for legal aid and been granted it. Now, when we sold our house about a year ago she received a $120,000 payout. Since then I have been paying child support at well over $2000 per month. She also gets government assistance at about $1700 per month.

It turns out that she has paid the $120,000 in to her mothers account. So of course it's now not being recorded as money belonging to my ex. Not only that, but the interest she is receiving is not being recorded as income on her tax return, and therefore, I potentially could be paying a higher rate of child support then I should. I don't mind paying child support - I love my kids a lot - but it needs to be done fairly.

Spoken to a few agencies today - ATO, CSA and Centrelink - they are all saying "there's nothing we can do, your ex might be just repaying a loan or giving a gift to her mother". Clearly not the case.

Seems terribly unfair if it isn't unfair enough already, having to go through all this just to get reasonable time with my children.

I have documents from the Change Of Assessment area of CSA, that they give new workers there, on each Change Of Assessment Reason. It states at the start of each Reason to explain to the applicant they are UNLIKELY TO SUCCEED... no matter what information we through at them they are obliged to tell us at the start we are unlikely to succeed!! What a nice bit of communication you want to hear before starting your application.

 

[Absolutely]

You better hope your ex hasn't got to your kids yet...My daughter ended up saying one weekend is for staying at her mums house, one weekend at her granparents house, one for her friends and one for me. It was all my solicitor needed to hear and after a forensic psych was called into investigate it, I was left with one weekend a month.
Dont believe that the courts are more equal these days. It took me 8 yrs to get an overnight stay!!

Geez 8 years ??????? That's not what I want to hear. Any particular reason Legs?

 

[jackson8]

if your ex is reasonable this is acheiveable but if she decides to dig in for whatever reason it is a very long and expensive process
better to stay out of court at any cost and retain a good relationship with ex if at all possible
as kids get older they can start to make own choices
and yes speak from experience , have spent last 20 years haveing to deal with csa and now have another 16 to go at 47 years of age that means they will still be hounding me at age 63 and have been divorced twice
i dont mind paying maint. but the rates are unrealistic . after paying 30c to taxman and 34c to csa leaves me with 36c in the dollar , hardly worth getting out of bed for and they are relentless when it comes to enforcing there law they can freeze your bank accounts and withdraw money from them without your knowledge

as for changes in family law , very minor all talk and no action i am afraid
and yes if you are a hard working person you have to pay all lawyer and court fees and the other get government to pay for every last cent regardless of how dirty they wish to be government will support them all the way thru

 

[Absolutely]

You guys not exactly filling me with confidence. I was kind of feeling relieved I have finally got this thing in to court. Enough of doing things her way !

I personally don't give a flying fish about the money - but at least with CSA changing next year, the more time I get now - the less I will have to pay.

C'mon guys give me some hope here..........