[Solved] Child Maintenence /CSA Case closed

HI I recently had my CSA case closed and then started paying the ex via direct debit each month. Yesterday I received a letter from the Child Maintenance saying they were looking at me now payment over £7000.00 per year. I do understand that I will receive some discounts on this figure having 3 child living with me and as I have my own 2 children 5 night in 14. However it looks as if I'm now being charged maintenance base on my private medical insurance and Travel allowance as my company move offices sometime ago and to keep us on the same salary we were given this allowance. The CSA previously did not include this so it now looks as if my payment could be going up over £100.00 per month, which I will struggle to pay. It also seem my pension contributions has not been taking into account too. When I spoke to someone on the phone they told me they wouldn't change the calculation unless it was a movement of more than 25% Which look as if that is correct.

So I would be most grateful if anyone could shed some light on this even if its just to say I'm going to have to pay this extra amount, which I consider is totally wrong and will mean all the little treats and stuff I do with my kids will have to stop. :boohoo: :boohoo:

Not including pension deductions is an "error" and is therefore grounds to have the calculation amended. Although you must not leave it too long, because there may be a time limit (30 days perhaps) to get such things rectified. Also it is not enough to simply phone up the CMS and say "I *think* you have not taken such and such into account".... they operate on a "guilty until proven innocent" basis - so you have to phone your payroll department, you have to phone pensions providers, you have to make the calls to HMRC (or whoever) to gather the proof that said deductions have not taken place.

(That said, if you are paid via PAYE most occupational schemes will be included in the P60 figure, if CMS are using this. If you have private pension arrangements, then you need to gather the "evidence" and inform CMS ASAP, and assume they will work on the basis of "guilty until proven innocent". This is not a flippant comment).

With regards to salary benefits being paid as cash (I assume) - these will form part of your gross income. If you were to take such benefits as "salary sacrifice" then your gross salary would be (legally) reduced - and you would receive the benefit in some other way. With regards to allowances - as far as I understand - if it forms part of your gross income, then CMS are able to take this into account.