www.iva.co.uk

Good Morning, I have an outstanding arrears of around £3,900 with the CSA. My child is 19 so this debt will not rise but they wish me to pay it off in less than two years which would mean monthly payments that I can not afford as I am supporting my elderly mother and helping my daughter with her rent each month. Would an IVA be an option?

If I have read you correctly, based upon what you say...

If the only debt you have is with the CSA then an IVA would certainly not be appropriate. Your only option is, I think, to put together a Statement of Means and make representations based upon it to the CSA, preferably via the Citizens Advice Bureau, so as to get your payments on an affordable basis.

If, however you have significant other debts then the answer might be a bit different.

Ian

If you have other debt that you are managing well and this is something that will make you struggle then you would have to include all unsecured debt in an IVA, subject to being eligible to propose one.

Like Ian says though if it is your only debt and there is no other unsecured debts then you would not be able to propose an IVA.

The CSA will generally accept fairly low repayments based upon affordability - I have seen £1 per week being accepted in the past. The best thing to do is to contact them with a detailed note of your income and expenditure showing how much disposable income you actually have.

It is ironic that you are being chased for child support payments, when you are continuing to support your daughter financially - and you must be a great Dad!