The CSA Files – update
Now the elections are over it is time, as Scrap has said, to start a proactive call to reform the CSA. I have stood for a place in parliament but with very little time on my hands before polling day I was unable to get enough support to make that a reality. But this is not the time to stop or even slow down.Â
In the next 3 years we have the oppertunity to really make a change, to wit I am back to focus on the documentary called “The CSA Files”. For further info in this doco please visit www.the-csa-files.webs.com
I am also looking to talk to anybody who would like to appear on camera with their story whether is be about the SCA or about the Family Court.
In the mean time, have a look at the teaser for the upcoming film “The CSA Files”.
Good on you for doing this Tigerseye.
The current head of Child Support Assistance Branch (this branch handles Child Support Agency complaints), is a delightful and a very decent person to talk to. While obviously restricted by the Act I’ve found her very open minded and receptive. Of course she can’t comment officially or change anything, but I sense a mood within IRD that the criticism of the Act is being heard but it is up to the politicians to make the changes. I’ve been surprised to find many Child Support staff I’ve spoken to accept the current Act is inappropriate in some areas.
The real devil within IRD is the computerised system they’ve got. I beleive IRD accept it is crap but tell me it will cost to much to improve. That said, if the tax system wasn’t based on just pouring money into one big pot to cover the cost of everything, some of the Child support collection could actually going to improving the system, not topping up the Consoilidated Fund, which it does at present.
Personally I agree with paying Child Support, but as a first step, I would like to see Child Support based on net income if you are on PAYE and the age lowered to be in line with what the government considers to be an adult (ie when you can vote and drink in a pub). In its present form on gross income it is just a tax upon a tax and non-custodial parents have no say on how their ex-partner spends it, in my case often on herself not the kids.
Gerry
Comment by Gerry — Sun 9th November 2008 @ 4:04 pm
John Key spoke about the disincentive of high marginal tax rates in relation to Family Assistance and other such benefits. Anyone (like me) earning an average wage and paying child support for 3 kids has a marginal tax rate of 60% (I don’t think CS for 2 kids is much less). For me that means there is no motivation to work extra hours, and in fact, I have cut my hours as a direct consequence of this situation.
How can this be good for the country?
I look forward to seeing whether Mr Key will do anything about this.
Comment by Ross — Mon 10th November 2008 @ 12:37 pm
Dont hold your breath Ross.
Regards
Scrap
Comment by Scrap_The_CSA — Mon 10th November 2008 @ 1:14 pm
Have a look at Australia’s current Child Support laws. They are much fairer and focused on the cost of raising a child in a separated family environment.
There is no reason for NZ’s system to be so vastly different to Australia’s. In fact there are a great many reasons to bring our system inline with theirs.
I agree we need to start lobbying the new government right away for changes. On the one had there is Judith Colins and a desire within National to secure the female vote. On the other hand there is ACT, United Future and also Nick Smith. I don’t know how to progress this but I think the female partners and family of separated fathers would be an important voice for National to hear. We need national to learn that there is plenty of female support to scrap the current Child Tax system.
Comment by Dave — Mon 10th November 2008 @ 5:00 pm
Not all is well with the Aussie changes and the jury is out.
However an orchestrated campgain, mailnly driven by the single mother movement has started to get payments increased again.
Im not convinced that the Aussie changes are the answer as I still hold that a percentage of gross income formula is fundementally flawed and no ammount of tinkering is going to fix the problem.
Regards
Scrap
Comment by Scrap_The_CSA — Mon 10th November 2008 @ 7:07 pm
Good luck Tigerseye, I’ll see if I can find you some actors. We spend our time finding ways to reduce paying child support as even though we have 50/50 we’re the ones who pay big time despite this while the ex manages to go overseas once a year, drive an expensive car and not pay school fees etc etc. It’s not right. If the system was fair we wouldn’t be forced into such a corner. We definitely need a change. She works part time while both of us work and somehow gets away with it all. It’s a shame the law reduces us to thinking and acting as we do, but we need to survive and get ahead as well and don’t believe in supporting her lifestyle while she isn’t held accountable for anything.
Comment by Annie — Mon 10th November 2008 @ 8:13 pm
A great start Tigerseye and I look forward to seeing the finished doco.
My situation is one in which I earn a base income. The rest of my income is based on reaching a sales target. Last year I did very well almost adding an additional 50% to my income. However the IRD base the next years CS assesment based on the previous years income. My only guaranteed income is the base income. I have tried to reason with the IRD to no avail. I have to pay based on what they believe I will earn. In the meantime I have to pay an extortionate amount of interest on the late payments. And then there’s interest on the interest! I can assess my income, but if this is less than 15% then they will take no notice and ignore this. 15% is a sick joke. The amount of a 15% burden when you are already paying CS, working all hours god sends to get by is a joke. I think IRD is an acronym for Irrational Relentless Destruction.
Comment by IDNZ — Mon 10th November 2008 @ 10:23 pm
It’s fair to say that we all have problems with the IRD and I’d actually like to acknowledge someone that that goes through at least as much shit as we do. The people in the IRD Chlid Support call centre.
These people hear hundreds of heart breaking stories each day from (mostly) Fathers who have been driven to the bottom by a legislation that does not recognise mens and fathers rights.
Spare a thought for them. I read about 2 or 3 stories each week from people wanting to share their story with me and the rest of NZ about the unfairness of the CSA – I feel helpless and and impotent to do anything yet here are these poeple that are going through so much hell it sometimes brings a tear to my eye. That’s just 2 or 3 stories a week. Spare a thought for the IRD Child Support call centre workers who deal with it many times a day… they are the piggy in the middle of the government ripping lives apart.
Comment by Tigerseye — Mon 10th November 2008 @ 11:21 pm
We also have joint custody and are having to pay out child support.
It’s so unfair … my fiance’s exwife chooses to work 30 hours a week and has just had her boyfriend move in and is wanting more money out of us! She is now refusing to pay school fees, take the kids to sports we have enrolled them into that they wanted to play and is keeping them home from school and taking them to the Mall saying they are sick! The problem is that she will keep them both home from school if one is supposedly sick. She is now threating that she wants full custody and this all stems from the fact that she wants more money!!! It’s a farce and we are sick of it!! We both work full time and work hard to provide for the boys. We would rather reduce our hours than support her lifestyle! Fedup totally!
Comment by Joy — Mon 23rd March 2009 @ 10:02 pm
Joy brings up a good point. A lot of the time it is better to quit your job or reduce your hours or whatever so you can actually improve your situation. That is crazy and says something about how unfair and ridiculous the system is. Not to mention the fact that people with joint custody have to pay at all! Then of course the court system is set up in such a way that the custodial parent (usually mothers) has all the power, especially if they don’t work. That way they can get the dpb or child support and when it comes to court they can get legal aid, which lets them do what they want and can continue to go back and forth between mediation and court cause it costs them nothing. Then they can play the card of having no money. Where as the paying parent has a mortgage, paying CS, everyday living costs and then is expected to pay for lawyers, court fees, and even just to get a court order costs thousands! Plus IRD takes nothing into account except how much you earn. They say it is calculated on the previous years earnings, then they say that as soon as you get a pay rise or new job you must tell them straight away! How does that work???? The whole system is corrupt and unfair. Where is the justice?
Comment by Scott — Tue 24th March 2009 @ 7:55 am
I realise they get CS even if they do work, just realised how that read! You get the drift tho!
Comment by Scott — Tue 24th March 2009 @ 8:02 am
Can’t view the trailer/teaser. Any new info on this? How is it going?
Comment by Scott B — Wed 24th February 2010 @ 10:01 pm