How will my partner's income affect my CSA payments?

Question

I am the father of one child from a previous relationship. I have received a letter from the CSA asking for my partner's income details. She currently works for an employment agency so her income varies greatly. Some weeks it's around £200, other weeks it's zero. Will they lump our incomes together and assess me on that sum or is it a case of outgoings such as rent and council tax are taken as shared? We generally keep our finances seperate and pay half or the rent, council tax, bills etc each. I'm not sure that she'll be too happy about giving her details such as NI number etc to the CSA but is she legally obliged to do so or can she take a stand of my son being not of a financial obligation to her and refuse to hand over her details? We have no other children and my son doesn't stay over with us.

Answer 1

Just bin the letter, the CSA are history from October 2008

Answer 2

Your partners income may affect your payments depending on how old your case is. If you are on CS1 (ie your case was opened before March 2003) then your current partners income may be considered for housing costs. Rough rule of thumb is that if your partner income is less then yours it will make no difference. Likewise if she is is a higher wage earner than you the CSA assume that you will pay less for housing and so up your CSA payments. If you don't supply details then CS will assume that your partner is paying and introduce a penalty assessment and your payments go up.

However if you are on CS2, opened after March 2003 then its completely different matter. It matters not what she earns as it is only your wage that the assessment is made on. You do not have to provide any of her details to them at all.

To confirm - Your partner is not required by law to provide her details to the CSA, be it CS1 or CS2.