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Child Maintenance Question

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By *arambar OP   Man
over a year ago

swindon

I have a question about child maintenance which I'd be grateful to get everyone's thoughts on, especially those who have first hand experience of it.

Although I've been separated for a while, due to my circumstances and an agreement between my ex and myself about mortgage payments, I've not been making any child maintenance payments for our son. However, as that situation is now resolved, I've been looking into what I should be looking into child maintenance.

Because we split custody equally I had assumed that there'd not be anything to pay as I had thought child maintenance was to cover costs incurred when one parent looked after children for a disproportionate amount of time. But after putting my details into the CSA calculator it seems that's not the case.

Can someone explain what child maintenance is meant to be for exactly? I'm happy to pay for things for our child but it seems to me that I'm paying for my ex and her new partner's lifestyle. Is that normal?

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By *nnyMan
over a year ago

Glasgow

Child Maintenance Options, a service provided by the Child Maintenance Group, which is part of the Department for Work and Pensions says

"Child maintenance is regular, reliable financial support parents provide for their child when they separate. It can help towards a child's everyday living costs and give them the best start in life."

That may be what it's intended for but there may be little control over how the money is actually spent.

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By *reelove1969Couple
over a year ago

bristol

in a word yes !!

we had both children for 6 days a week however the other parent claimed the child benefit .. they have absolute rights for all payments even if u have the children 7 days a week

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By *arambar OP   Man
over a year ago

swindon


"in a word yes !!

we had both children for 6 days a week however the other parent claimed the child benefit .. they have absolute rights for all payments even if u have the children 7 days a week "

Thanks.

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By * n zCouple
over a year ago

leamington spa

The CSA level is a guide, if you have a good relationship with your ex you can make the payments what ever you both agree on.

I let my ex off approx 100 pounds a month for our 3, I can manage on what I get and he has a high rent to pay. The money goes towards bills, clothes food entertainment etc, I have the children the majority of the time, he has them around 3 nights a fortnight.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Go to a family law specialist or even the CAB for sound advice - good luck, though often fairness to the "absent parent" is not evident.

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By *issBehavingxxWoman
over a year ago

Glasgow

The parent claiming child benefit is entitled to claim maintenance, either by an agreement or via the CSA (csa is only mandatory if the parent claiming maintenance is on benefits)

You are entitled to 1/7th reduction in payments for each overnight per week that the child / children spend with you.

Last time I had anything to do with it, it was 15% of net pay (tax, NI, pension contribution)

It's payed to who is deemed the "resident parent" but there's really no way to force it to be spent "directly" on the child / children. So your ex can technically spend it on whatever she wants..... Whether that be food, clothes, electricity etc..or some new shoes for herself

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If you are doing anything that doesn't officially go through the CSA make sure it is documented as they can do you for back pay if you can't prove you have been making regular payment, and how much for. Maybe do bank transfers so there is an audit trail.

I have known people in the past that have made their own arrangements and the CSA have got involved for whatever reason and the parent responsible for paying maintenance has been stung for back pay. In all honesty I would advise doing it via them to save any possible future hassle...may seem unfair now, but will be even worse when they tell you they think you've underpaid x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

No you have to pay towards the days you don't have your child. If you think how much you spend on your child the days you have him. I'm sure you will appreciate what your ex has to spend when she has him. Your not paying for your exs lifestyle your holding your head up high and contributing towards your child's lifestyle

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By *arambar OP   Man
over a year ago

swindon

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I appreciate your comments.

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham


"No you have to pay towards the days you don't have your child. If you think how much you spend on your child the days you have him. I'm sure you will appreciate what your ex has to spend when she has him. Your not paying for your exs lifestyle your holding your head up high and contributing towards your child's lifestyle "

i'm not a parent so forgive my ignorance in this but.....if they have split custody ad so have similar custody times, why doesnt the mum have to pay CSA to the dad?

surely he has the same ongoing costs as well in runing a home for the child?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Aah soz didn't realise was equal days. Thought op was saying due to paying half mortgage ...... Agree then. No shouldn't have to pay anything. You can do an online calculation if you go onto their website x

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By *issBehavingxxWoman
over a year ago

Glasgow


"No you have to pay towards the days you don't have your child. If you think how much you spend on your child the days you have him. I'm sure you will appreciate what your ex has to spend when she has him. Your not paying for your exs lifestyle your holding your head up high and contributing towards your child's lifestyle

i'm not a parent so forgive my ignorance in this but.....if they have split custody ad so have similar custody times, why doesnt the mum have to pay CSA to the dad?

surely he has the same ongoing costs as well in runing a home for the child?"

Because whoever has the child benefit is entitled to maintenance and the child benefit (per child) cannot be split even if residence is shared equally

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham


"No you have to pay towards the days you don't have your child. If you think how much you spend on your child the days you have him. I'm sure you will appreciate what your ex has to spend when she has him. Your not paying for your exs lifestyle your holding your head up high and contributing towards your child's lifestyle

i'm not a parent so forgive my ignorance in this but.....if they have split custody ad so have similar custody times, why doesnt the mum have to pay CSA to the dad?

surely he has the same ongoing costs as well in runing a home for the child?

Because whoever has the child benefit is entitled to maintenance and the child benefit (per child) cannot be split even if residence is shared equally"

well thats crap!!!

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

the situation....not your knowledge btw

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By *ittle_brat_evie!!Woman
over a year ago

evesham

[Removed by poster at 16/11/12 23:58:34]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"

Because whoever has the child benefit is entitled to maintenance and the child benefit (per child) cannot be split even if residence is shared equally"

Exactly this, my partner and I simply had the child benefit paid over to him as he was paying upkeep for his son. I received the child benefit from my other two children from a previous marriage. Against my better wishes I had to get the CSA involved or they would have stopped my unemployment benefit while I was out of work. Being made to do this plays a major factor with many single parents who need benefits unfortunately.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

As a single mom with one child, I feel that £50 per week for the first child, £30 per week for the second and £15 for the third, with it being limited to three is a reasonable amount for the non-resident parent to pay. However, if you are also paying the full mortgage amount, I think that is more than enough.

I think £200 to £300 per month maintenance is adequate unless, of course, you are an extremely high earner.

I think the assumption that most single moms use maintenance to fund their own lifestyle is a little unfair.

Food, clothes, out of school activities, school lunches, electricity, gas, water - I would doubt there would be much left to think about buying new shoes for yourself!

To all you dads that do pay reasonable maintenance, give yourselves pats on the back because a lot of dads hide their finances to get out of paying. I receive £5 per week. That doesn't even cover school lunches for the week, let alone a pair of shoes for myself x

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