The end of a relationship with your partner is never the end where children are involved. Of course, you want to be a part of the lives of your kids, to see them and spend time with them. You also have a responsibility to give them financial support when they don't live with you.
If you're trying to work out a fair figure between yourselves, you can get an accurate estimate using our free Child Maintenance Calculator.
Arranging Financial Support
There are four real ways to pay your ex maintenance for your children.
- You can work out a figure between the two of you – obviously the best way
- Make an arrangement through mediation
- Have an agreement between your solicitors
- It can be calculated by the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) or the Child Maintenance Calculator CMS
The first three methods are obviously better, since they rely on agreement rather than acrimony and bureaucracy.
Child Maintenance Service
The CMS can help calculate the level of maintenance you should pay for your children, and ensure you pay it. The amount set depends on a number of factors, but it boils down to three basic things – your gross income, how many children you'll be paying maintenance for, and how many children are living with you. The Child Support Agency was replaced with the Child Maintenance Service in 2012. The CSA is now closed.
Find out how much child maintenance you should pay or receive. Takes less than a minute.
Try our Child Maintenance Calculator free, here on this site →Basic Rates
You'll find that certain circumstances can reduce the amount of maintenance you pay. If you're paying the mortgage on the home where the children and your ex live, for instance, that can reduce maintenance payments, as can the fact that you pay school fees for your children, or if you transferred capital or property to your ex before 1993 as part of what's called a "clean break" settlement.
Additionally, if your children stay overnight with you during the week, this will lessen the amount of maintenance you have to pay. If it's one night a week, for example, the reduction will be 1/7th, and this can rise to ½ if the children spend half the year with you.
Reduced Rates
You might be making a net income of less than £200 a week, but still more than £100. That qualifies you to pay maintenance at a reduced rate. The calculations can be fairly complex, so using the CMS calculator is the most straightforward way to assess what you have to pay.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
Flat Rate
If you make less than £100 a week, or you're on benefits, you'll play a flat rate of maintenance of £7 per week (which can be deducted from your benefits). Also, if you're living with someone who collects Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance, you play the flat rate.
Paying No Maintenance
There are situations where you can have Parental Responsibility but not have to pay maintenance for your children. However, this only occurs if you're a full-time student, or aged 16-19 and in full-time advanced education, or if you're living in a nursing home and receiving help to pay the fees.
I've recently seperated from my wife and pay for the full joint mortgage. Still am.
I had a letter from child support and they have quoted me a flat figure for the two children's maintenance costs.
As I am paying both mine and my exes mortgage, does this entitle me for a reduction in the overall CSM cost? (offset for covering her mortgage costs). Thanks
I know it will be hard to work out a figure between myself and ex partner because there are already tensions and many demands for more money. I would like to consider child support agency to help us with child maintenance calculations.
My question is, If I continue paying my Mortgage share for the house where my ex partner and children live in, will that reduce my child maintenance? Also, I still pay for my child's school meals, private tutor and other bills such as gas and tv.
My income is avaraging £500 per week at the moment. Please help on how to solve this.
For some reason my child maintenance payment has increased by £40 extra per month. The reason for this is unknown to me, and I have another child living with me. I should also mention I will be moving home soon early next year with a mortgage to pay for which should affect my child maintenance outgoings. My income has not changed but my outgoings have increased. I think it is unfair for child maintenance to increase the monthly payments despite having another child living with me which I did tell them about months ago! I have done some research and it says I can apply for a variation as I have to travel by car to and from to pick up then drop off my daughter. I need your advice on what I should do next.
If I have a seperate mortgage for myself, nothing involving my ex or children, does my child maintenace repayments reduce or am I still expected to pay in full in regards to my annual gross income?
My daughter has turned 18 and is currently doing 2 A levels at college, not full time education.
DO i still need to pay child support?
Thanks
Damo
Note: I had an agreed amount that I have been paying to this lady before she contacted the CMS.
CMS also refused to recognise my daughter, who's not with me in UK.
Can someone kindly give me advice on what to do.
Ddeeeee
You just can’t talk to these people so they don’t care if you have a family or pregnant wife they just want there money that they think you should pay who can afford to pay in excess of £1400 a month which CM take 24% of each payment as a process fee. if I don’t pay I’ve been threatened with a jail sentence.
So I’ve tried for 24 years to deal with this shower of crooks so ltd company and move to an eu country to get them off my back try take my money now.
I have set up bank account in my kids names CM money is for the children not the mother good luck to all dads as they are worse than dealing with loan sharks ????
I need help and legal advice. Just few days ago I received a letter from Child Maintenance Enforcement Service (CMES) which stated that they have frozen £3899.42 in my bank account, to recover unpaid child maintenance of £7583.78.
The issues here is firstly I am a full time student and I have an agreement in place to pay £30.42 by standing order (monthly) to my children mother and the record would show that I have kept to this agreement till present. The second issue is the frozen £3899.42 is my student loan payments, which I also use to support my children (child support payments). I feel that they have breach my human rights, bullied, intimidating and put my name and character in a negative light. They have totally stressed me out. I am trying to fight this case and to put forward a formal complaint against this organisation for their unfair actions against me. Could you help me with some legal advice and how to go about fighting this case. I appreciate your time. I await your reply.
Regards
Edwin Williams
I bought a small terraced house by myself 10 years ago which I rented out ever since I bought it. I now want to sell the house to my brother which will mean after deductions etc I will receive £45k. He wants to pay me back monthly of £1000/month and we are arranging all this via solicitors.
I met my ex (we never married) 6 years ago and we have a child together who is now 3. We split up 2 years ago and now I am wondering if this will affect any child maintenence payments? I have paid CM ever since we have split. My and my ex have never lived in this rental nor has she ever contributed to anything as I bought it years before I met her. Sorry if I've included irrelevant information but just thought as much info I can provide the better.
Thanks in advance.
He left the house last October so he said i will have to pay the full mortgage now
Our daughter is 14 years old
Thank you
Dawn Morton
My house is up for sale, it's in my name only. However I have a son with my partner and we have just separated. Where do I stand legally in being able to sell the house?
If I decide to let her stay in there, how does it work with mortgage/CMS payments.
Will the house fully belong to me until my son moves out etc??
Any help appreciated
I have a new son with my ex-girlfriend, I asked her about me giving her money every month to support my son, she doesn't want any money from me. Now I've heard that if you don't pay child support then you don't have the same rights as you would if you were paying child support, is that right? Any advise appreciated.
I have a daughter which I pay Child maintenance for and she lives with her mother full time, I dont even see my daughter as her mother poisoned her against me.
I'm going to be inheriting roughly around 30k from parents death and would like to know if she has any claim to the sum of money.
Also I'm going self employed soon and not sure how that effects what I pay.
Any info would be great thanks .
Phone cms and demand you pay.
She'll need to say no.
Then you can't ever be asked again through cms.
You can simply keep aside money for them and give it to them when they're older.
No. Apprenticeships don't count as full time education.
The law is specific in this area.
Apprentices are working.
Full time education is 21hrs a week or more.
Hope that helps.
Sign up for an OU course, you need to 90 credits worth of study to legally count as a student.
In Scotland undet 25k is free, in England abd wales you can get "loans" to pay fees. Unsure of NI?
Check out what works for you.
You'll get an education and avoid cms payments.
I opted to study then was attacked by my ex for money using cms. I told them I was a student. They tried arguing I wasn't. I quoted the law to them.
They try it on every year, but I'm doing a degree over 4 years, so no payments until I finish. Might sign up for another course after this one.
All legit and no come back.
Thanks
Thanks Mark
I separated from my wife in November, but we both still share/live in the family home and take equal turns to look after the children. Am I required to still pay child maintenance?
When do i stop paying maintenance to my ex.? The reason being is,id like to continue paying my daughter directly but cant afford to until paying my ex officially ends.
I’m 62 my wife is 44
Our kids are both 11 and 12
We are trying to sort out an agreeable exit where she gets the house and I don’t pay any maintenance
But then I would be a couple of hundred thousand pounds down
What I wonder with my potential earning years slowly eroding
May I ask what is the likelihood I might not have to pay much maintenance due to my age
I live in Hong Kong by the way but the law generally follows UK
Look forward any advice ‘thanks
On October 19th I got a letter from Csa stating that I would be paying £48.86 a week, just under 200pounds a month for my child and that would be up till October 2020. Today I've received a letter, dated December 12th stating that they've now worked out my payments and I'm meant to pay 287pounds a month! How is this possible? Can someone please explain this? I used to pay my daughters mother 300pounds a month and I told her if she goes csa she wouldn't be getting near what I provide before everything else I do for my daughter.
Please can someone explain if this is correct that they can change the amount within a few months?
Thanks
I separated from my wife 2 and a half years ago.
I pay the mortgage and pay maintenance for my 4 children. I am unable to have them overnight as I cannot afford both mortgage and maintenance, although I do see and feed them 14 days a month.
I am technically homeless and I am reliant on the good will of family for a place to stay (where I see my kids)
My ex is refusing to pay the mortgage, work or sell the house. She said she will not sell the house until my youngest, is 16 - 12 years time.
I have tried mediation but that has proved a waste of time as she will not budge from her position. I do not want to go to court as this will cost a significant amount of money, which I do not have.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Her mother (my ex) has just got married.
Do I still have to pay maintenance?
If there is any legal advise out there it would be greatly appreciated. My son will be doing day release, less than 12 hours college a week.
Really, my preferred option would be to help my lad giving him something directly as and when he needs it.
surely, i can't be held indebted to her because she has made a promise to convert a garage for him and buy him a car?
Hi ****** I feel we need to have a sit down and chat at some point over the coming weeks leading up to ******* leaving school as you know he is going to be doing an apprentership with ***** (fiance) company he will be having a meeting prior to that when it will be discussed what he will be paid etc
The plan from our point of view is to have ****** pay a certain amount of money ( the majority ) into a bank account as a this will be untouched and will eventually be the deposit for his first house. We have discussed this in great dept with ******
Over the next 12 / 18 months we plan to convert the garage to a self contained space for him to have his own space for him to stay as long as he wishes
So from our point of view nothing changes we shall still be taking care of ****** and providing for him for the majority of things , have you thought about what you plan to do regarding maintenance payments ??
Lastly ******** will be approaching his 17th birthday and we are hoping to purchase for him his first car please advise if you or any family members would like to contribute and how much so that we can get an idea of what we can get him
I should probably add that Charlie will not be paying any of his wages to us "as in board money" obviously
I am currently renting out a flat, but it’s to a friend and they are only paying to cover the mortgage and obviously paying the bills. I am just wondering would this be classed as income from Child Maintenance? The reason I ask is I do not make any profit from it. Its a favour to me so I don’t need to pay 2 lots of bills.
Thanks
The CMA seem to treat fathers very unfairly and this needs to stop
My husband was never aloud to be a part of my step sons life he spent the first few years of his life trying to be evolved but his ex partner always thought he wasn't good enough and I suppose that yes at the time he was poor and could give them what they needed my step son never had any envolvment and if my husband done anything wrong then it was not fight hard enough but the truth was he never thought he could do it she moved someone in and raised him with another man pushed my husband out for years when he tried contacting my step son recently got in touch and reached out so we where there with open arms since we have been evolved we been giving him money payed for his passport and took him away this is within a square of a few months now the only reason we are allowed to see him is because he is old enough to make his own choices ...
I have nw had a phone call to say that he has to pay a back payment is this wrong I see it to be wrong on so many levels when my husband was never good enough then but now it seems she's out to get what she can to strain things to ruin their relationship amy advice would be grateful
My husband pays £750pm for his 2 children to his ex wife whom he divorced 4 years ago. There was no custody arrangement and no official CMS order, just a written agreement of the amount within their divorce papers.
Ex wife has now had a new baby with boyfriend who has moved in with her and has gone straight to CMS and is now entitled to £1400pm. This is because she has stated that the children do not come and stay with us. They used to, but over the years ex wife has basically poisened one child, then the other into not visiting us. She has never “stopped” them from seeing us, just never encouraged it and bad mouthed my husband at every opportunity. Now, the fact is that my husband’s ex wife cheated multiple times on my husband and denied it to her children until she was forced to admit the truth. She has been an alcoholic, a drug addict, the social services have been involved many times and there are many examples of her neglecting their children. As the children are 12 and 14 it’s difficult to “force” them to visit or indeed to take custody of them - but is that what you would suggest? The ex wife lives in a 4 bed council house (my husband’s family home) and we have scrimped and worked unbelievably hard to afford to buy our home. Sadly, if we have to pay her that amount, we won’t be able to afford our mortgage and will have to sell. I have a 15 year old from a previous relationship and a baby with my husband. Can anyone please help us? This woman seems so greedy and expects that the world owes her a living.. her own father, I might add is a millionaire, so it just goes to show how, if she wanted, she could leave the council house, set up on her own and give the house to someone in need, but I suppose that’s a moot point.
My son leaves school this year, 16 and is starting work under an apprenticeship with his mums husband. While i will always support my son, when can i stop paying her support?
My husbands ex (their daughter lives with the ex) refuses to keep us updated as to what their daughter is doing in terms of education. She left school and went to college.
We found out she didn’t re enroll at college for year 2. The college even called the CMS to say the daughter had left college. Mum said daughter was at another college and refused to tell us which one (so we couldn’t check). Daughter 18 at this point and PR had fallen away. Daughter doesn’t speak to us. CMS not interested and just says no evidence keep paying or call child benefit office and allege fraud, which we have...
Anyone ever have these issues? If you did what’s your advice?
Some advise please.. My daughter lives with me full time and her mum has her every other sat for the day (long story) she is on job seekers £72a week and now on PIP at £57 a week. I know she has to pay the flat rate of £7 a week from JSA which she hasn't been but is her PIP taken into account as well? I can't find anything about PIP and child maintenance
Thanks
R
I’m currently starting up my own business and haven’t had a wage for almost one year. I am taking £2k every 4 weeks out of a business loan which I will need to pay back once the business starts trading.
I’ve had a letter from Child Maint stating my ex partner has advised them I’m working. I’ve told them I’m not earning a wage yet. They contacted my accountant who told them the same. The ex has challenged the decision and I’ve got another letter stating this.
Where do I stand here? I’m not paying any income tax as I’m not on a wage yet I’m only taking enough from a business loan every month to cover my outgoings until my business starts up proper. I
Will this effect payments to the child maintenance?
Hi all,
My daughter is now 15 and will be 16 next year, but I understand that school leaving age has been raised to 18 now. I have a voluteer agreement to pay a set amount each month to my Ex-wife for maintance.My question is do i continue this payment until she 18 and leave full time school or stop at 16 or when child allowance ends I do not know that date..Iam very Confused about this...HELP PLEASE ?
My son is 18 in December he is at collage doing an engineer corse do I have to carry on paying maintenance I don’t understand this higher education thing to the age off 20 any help is very much appreciated.
My ex wife and I separated in March 2015, we are divorced, and I got a final consent order in summer 2017.
Solicitor advised me that the court case was purely about assets, and that child custody/access were best sorted out between me and my (now ex) wife. My son was 12 when we separated.
We went to mediation in March 2015, and agreed shared custody and 50/50 access, me having my son from Sunday morning to Wednesday morning, and my ex wife having him from Wednesday evening to Sunday morning. The mediation process ended when my ex wife abandoned it, when information on her finances was requested.
My son is 15 now, and is staying here with me at our house as I write this. Obviously he's nearly 16, so nailing him down to a precise 50/50, or dividing up a seven day week 50/50 precisely is never going to be possible, and this arrangement was always meant to be flexible (allowing for holidays, family events, special occasions) for the welfare and benefit of our son. He has mates, and a steady girlfriend so I try not to be too rigid with him. This set up has worked for the last 3 1/2 years. I have paid for his clothes, food, travel, holidays, leisure activities etc. during this time, and continue to do so.
3 weeks ago I got a letter from the CMS. My ex wife has launched a claim against, and has told them I do not have my son staying with me. The CMS are impossible to deal with, and will not believe what I say. They claim that as my ex wife is in receipt of the child benefit (it was only £20 per week, so I let my ex wife keep it all), that is the only indicator the can work on.
I don't know what to do, I am being alienated from my son, and the CMS letters are very threatening. They are demanding £200 pcm from me. It's blatant opportunism from my ex, and she has lied to the CMS. I cannot afford to pay my mortgage if I have to pay this amount. I have lots of debt from the divorce case, and I'm self employed with a very poor few months earnings this year.
Please let me know if you can help...
Do I stop paying maintenance when my daughter has finished her A Levels in May19, or when school term ends in July 19, even though she won't be going to school any more?
Thanks
Vinny
I have been divorced from my ex wife since 2009, although we officially separated in 2007. When we split up we had a shared (mortgaged) house, and I agreed to pay the mortgage until it was sold. I continued to pay when she moved her new fella in whilst they were looking for a house of their own, I believe he lived there for approximately 5 months
I also took on all the joint debt so she didn't have to worry about paying that. When the house finally sold, she received 60% of the equity and I received 40%, out of which I paid all of the solicitors fees.
Since then I have paid a regular agreed amount each month, this has always been just slightly over the amount that I would have paid if we went through the CSA as I wanted to make sure my daughter was ok. On top of the monthly payments, I have also bought my daughter clothes and paid half towards all of her school trips.
My ex has remarried and has another child, I know that she can't possibly be spending all of the money I give her on our daughter. During this Summer, our daughter has mainly been with me and my wife or her boyfriend, so I assume that most of the money has gone on my ex wife's lifestyle which seems to involve eating out a lot. When she did eventually go home, her mother moaned about having to buy food for her.
I spoke to my daughter last night and she told me that her Mum is skint again so she has been buying her own food, this seems to be a regular occurrence ATM.
My Ex's new husband is possibly related to Scrooge as when she asked him for money to go shopping he gave her £20.
Apologies if this seems like a rant, but that's exactly what it is!!
Since we split in 2007, I have kept a spread sheet which shows most of my payments although not all of them (not included clothing). I am currently up to £98658, by the time I can stop the payments, this figure will be up to just over £102,000. I am not bitter about paying for my daughter as that is my responsibility, but I am very bitter about the fact that over the years, less and less of my money seems to be going towards her and more of it on my ex wife's new family.
It doesn't matter how much I do to help my ex, it is never enough. I have previously bailed her out when she needed money because she couldn't ask her current tight fisted husband, I have also just offered to pay the remaining amount up front to help her out as I know she has no money and Xmas is just around the corner. She has thrown that back in my face.
The validation word I have to type in before I post this is MUG, how appropriate!!
Role on July 2019 when all this stops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your article says it uses net income.
should i keep paying the bills/mortgage and rent elsewhere? (major struggle finacially)
Thank you in advance.
My daughter turned 18 in May and goes to university this month
When do I stop having to pay maintenance for her please
Was of the impression it was the end of August
If i leave my employment within the first week of september will i have to pay the full 400 for that month even tho i will not be working for the majority of it.
I have a clean break agreement so as I understand she can’t ckaim spousal maintenance is this correct?
Also on the break up she promised 200 pounds of child benefits/ tax credits to help me when I have the children.
Now she’s just got a Mortgsge 2 weeks later she takes a 8 k pay cut she says to look after children better , so she’s saying she can’t afford to give me the 200 pounds and she wants to know how much I earn this was put in the clean break but she now saying she doesn’t believe me.
So .. can she claim any money off me ?
And. Am I eligible for any of the child benefit / child tax credits seen as I care 50/50 for my children ?
Thanks
Mike
They are now set at GROSS PAY and include things like company car and allowance!
This makes it very difficult for many fathers out there.
Can anyone explain how they believe fathers suddenly have so much more money.........which they don't?!
Is there a way that I can get a reduction of how much I pay or get the CMS to consider my struggling financial situation?
The best option I can see is to leave my job and my for my wife to work.
Unfortunately my ex and her new partner who are well off have in my opinion "bought" my eldest and he wont see me. my ex has now decided she is reducing my access to one night a week , and has approached the CMS to re calculate maintenance based on 2 children for 1 night a week.
This then has the knock on effect that I will no longer be able to afford this property and will have to downsize to a one bed/studio so this will mean I can no longer have the children overnight at all, further increasing my maintenance.
First of all how do you calculate for 2 out of 3 children staying as the on line calculator does not have this facility, also having spoken with the CMS it would seem my ex can restrict access and then claim more, even though the younger two want to spend more time with me.
Any words of assistance would be appreciated.
Also what is a resable mileage for ex's to be apart for you child and can I claim this and hotel rooms as my child is 17 .
The £146,000 was for child too...
I’m looking for some advice ASAP.
My ex wife and I have a family based arrangement. My usual routine for seeing my daughter is that I have her every other Friday and Saturday night and every Wednesday night. So 8 nights per month.
However, during this month, I’ve had extra time with my daughter, as I took a week off work and had this time with her in the holidays. So in April, I had my daughter a total of 14 nights. When I used the CMS calculator to work out my payments this month and advised my ex the payment would be lower this month, she’s now advised she’ll stop me seeing my daughter on some of the nights as I’m charging her extra to see her?
As I right to have worked it out this way?
Please help me out here guys?
Thank you!
She has spent that money (on failed businesses and plastic surgery partly) and I now have to pay full child maintenance at 12% of my gross income.
I do want to pay for my daughter but the amount of money is crippling me to the point that I cannot afford my mortgage.
Do I have a case if I present the signed document to the CMS?
I will then sort a more reasonable amount with my ex that means I can give my daughter money too as she is always asking me to give her money, she is 17. My daughter does not stay with me very often but does come over once a week.
My husband pays child maintenance for his daughters who he never sees. £65 per week. It has came to light that his eldest left school Feb last year and not in to work/training or higher education. After contacting the CMA they have advised hey have tried to contact his ex who hasn't responded to letters advising of any changes?and won't answer her phone.
They have now taken his daughter of the direct debit. However that is 14 months of payments fraudulently taken??
We are under Scots law how do we get proof of date of leaving school and rebated on the payments made? Very frustrating as if we had not been paying it would be a very different scenario. TIA
My question is... If I don't update the difference when it gets to the next annual review based on my now earnings will I end up having to back pay as I'm only paying the £7pw currently with a wage of £400 because of what I earnt in 2016/2017? Like tax credits where they adjust the payment to take an underpayment into consideration? Or will it just be 20% as per usual? I would prefer to spread the cost and pay what I should rather than paying extra next year or being penalised for cms weird way of doing things.
My wife who lives in slovakia who i have 2 kids with has filed for divorce. I still have not recieved my papers yet but i do pay her child support which is £180 a month after the exchange rate it is roughly €200 she gets. I have 2 kids from a previous marriage aswell and they get £180 a month aswell. I phoned csa and they worked out how much i should pay each parent on my uk salary. When i told the ex wife to be in slovakia she said no ways she wants €300 A month. Can she do that afyer what csa has told me. Also she wont let me speak to the kids and also wont answer my calls or texts. I need help here... can i hold back the child support money until she makes contact with me and also seen that i am still married to her do i have to pay now or can i wait until the divorce papers come through. I also want shared custody of my kids but she wont leave a 3rd world country. There is more for my kids here in uk than in slovakia.. please help someone
my eldest daughter is disabled, and i realise the FMH is required for her.
will i have to continue to pay both mortgage and maintenance, as this amount has just been voluntary till now.
what solutions could be propsed to re-solve this
My step daughter left school and has been working full time for the last 3 years. She has now decided to try college at NC level and will be 19 at start of course and 20 in January. Will my husband have to pay child maintenance again and if so until when? The age of 20 or 20years 6 months when course will end.
Many thanks
It's important to understand that the government organisations have broken systems for calculating this stuff. You need to figure it out yourself, and agree it with the other party. If they don't agree and want to go through CSA/CMS etc. they will use PAYE paperwork, but it's important to ensure that other factors, like supporting other children, are taken into account.
It's stupid, but possible that getting you current partner to go 'formal' might even lower your payments to your previous partner, as the amount they take is split equally over the children receiving it.
Many thanks!
They have also informed me they only work on the Payslips and thereafter they get the yearly figure from the HMRC and also use this yearly figure to work out any under payments / over payments in your annual review.
Bank Statements are not acceptable unfortunately as they said I could have had expenses paid into my account at the same time as my pay.
I have been informed that they need at least 2 months or 8 weekly payslip which I do not have. The Accountant is away and he has informed me that he will do this once which will be in another 4 weeks or so.
The Accountant has told me that I need to inform the CSA and they can get all the figures from the Inland Revenue / HMRC. I have informed them that and they have said they only get a yearly figure I really dont know what to do.
Is this right I have phoned them so many times and they are useless really had enough
I am all for supporting my children but surely this is too much?????
Thanks in advance
I received a notice from child maintenance agency. I have to pay 19.50 per week.
Can I deduct the amount of mortgage and fuel cost.
I've continued to pay a monthly maintenance figure based on their online calculator. Ironically, they've now assessed my case for the 2017/18 year based on a 2016/17 HMRC figure (the one for the disputed year) and now the payments I've been paying (according to the online calculator) is MORE than they are telling me I should pay. Their whole system is farcical.
I'm awaiting a tribunal hearing, but I'm worried that logic will not prevail and I will end up paying the arrears for an assessed salary I never earned. I just want someone to help me with this, I don't know what to do. I'm under enough financial pressure as it is, and just want this sorted.
I just wanted to air my personal circumstances and see if anyone could offer me some guidance before seeking legal advise!
I was not married to the mother of my 2 children. We did have a joint mortgage on a house that she still lives in with our 2 children. (and has done for the last 7 years).
I have paid half the mortgage and child maintenance for the durations. I appreciate that I have slightly under paid on maintenance but that I have paid half the mortgage and not claimed occupational rent. So in total, it is probably a fair arrangement. But she is now saying the mortgage payment is irrelevant as I will get my share back when we sell the house and that I need to pay more maintenance.
Any advice would be welcome!
Many thanks
Is there a way of getting tax relief on this at all?
Thank you.
I have just received a new calculation that shows my new payment figure is now £1,180 per month. Again, they treat my company car and fuel as income. I had a couple of large bonus months in this time period. However, for the next 6 months no bonus payments are being made by my company. This means that the £1,180 I have to pay is 45% of my new net income.
I have written to the CMS to explain that my earnings in the 2nd half of the year are going to be reduced by a lot more than 25% but they refused to alter my payment plan. They have said they have taken my earnings in the first 6 month period and doubled it to get a 12 month figure. But this is not a true reflection of what my earnings will be as the 2 bonus payments I had will not re-occur.
What is the best way to demonstrate that my eaenings before tax are reducing by more than 25%?
Or is it only a private pension that the csa will accept ?
My 18 year old daughter has decided that she wants to go to Uni, afterall. She has a place and has started today. Her dad (we are divorced) has been paying me between £100 and £150 a month for her until she turned 18. This I understood as she was going to be working. As she is now at uni and I will have to continue to help her financially, is her dad legally obliged to start paying maintenance again?
Thanks
Obvious question and I think I know the answer.
I have been separated 18 months now and since separation I have paid the full amount advised by the csa (700 p/m)
I pay 75% of the mortgage on the marital home (£620) and pay a further £250 a month into my childrens savings and pocket money and a further £100 For the ex's car. (About 50% of my net pay)
I recently suggested to the ex we clear the mortgage with the children's savings and I will then build them back up with what was my mortgage contribution within 18 months. However as we had talked about the mortgage payment as being a form of spousal maintenance the ex has rejected this offer as she expects to gain that as additional income once the mortgage is paid so sees this as money she is losing out on.
Personally I think she is being unreasonable and I thinm i am being more than generous as she is also claiming benefits on top of what I'm paying so is in a much better financial position than me.
So, question is should I grow a pair of balls??
Food shopping every thing and other bills and I can barley keep my self living but just about manage will they still demand maintenance off me as surely putting a roof over my kids heads and paying everything should count for something shouldn't it as I worked everything out I pay for to what I earn after tax and I'm literally left with nothing at the end of it all
What happens then I ask please if someone can help
As my Ex lives with a partner and she gets all the child tax credits and child benefit and family tax credit
I don't get any of these or have a partner to help me cover everything and I'm thinking if csa is still demanding money for my ex surly there has to be something for single dads in my position about paying for everything to
Run a house and am struggling to do it without maintenance payments on top cause at least I'm putting a roof over my children's heads and covering all the bills and don't care I got no money left to play with but doesn't that count for anything if someone can help me there
They agreed he paid maintenance of £100. He buys her clothes nappies food etc.
She has now married and had another baby and has told my son CSA will now be involved with payments and have upt his payments to £196 is this fair as to me he is paying for another mans child the £100 a they agreed on was fine until his ex took on a mortgage got married and had another child. Looks to me like she is taking money from my son because she has bitten off more than she can chew and CSA have let her get away with it.
Please can you give me some advise
Many thanks
Willows.
My husband has cancer and is im hospital. He is receiving 80 per cent of his wages. As he may be off work for up to a year he may get personal independence payment. Does he still have to pay for daughter please? Thanks
I'm starting a LTD company on the side with the eventual intention (hopefully) that it will become full time and I leave my job.
Will the profit of the ltd company be taken into account with cms calculations?
With regards to the ltd company, what factors would the cms look at for the calculation?
Prior to my operation I paid a mutually agreed monthly amount of money direct to my ex, (I have read that this is not a legally binding agreement). My ex is aware (via the children) that I am due to return to work next week and has been quick to tell me that I now owe her the full amount of money, that I would have paid, had I have been in receipt of my usual weekly wage.
Does anybody have an official take on this or had a similar experience
Would I not have been expected to pay a reduced rate whilst I was in receipt of my employment and support allowance or would I be expected to pay back pay??
My ex did not see my son on a regular basis for the next 5 years. Two years after we separated I went to the CSA because he refused to pay e a penny all I asked for was £20 per week. The CSA were useless, he hardly paid anything, every time they caught up with him he moved jobs to avoid this. There was thousands of pounds in arrears he didn't pay and I could get nowhere.
When my son was 12 he started seeing his dad a couple of times a week and he asked for the maintenance(that he wasn't actually paying anyway) to be reduced, I agreed. After a huge row when he tried to move my son to another school behind my back just before he was 14, he tool my son and would not bring him back. I could do nothing, the police would not get involved, the solicitor told me because he was over 12 it was pointless going to court. I have not seen my son for 3 years now, he cut off his mobile and all contact with myself and my family Shortly after he took him he then went to CMS as this had changed from CSA and claimed maintenance from me.
it has took me years to rebuild my life but he takes £420 a month from me when he owes me £1000's but my claim was with CSA and his was with CMA I can do nothing. I have thrown myself into my work to try and re-build my life and after nearly 10 years and finally having a clear credit rating I am buying a house again at 47 years old. He continues not to pay me a penny of what he owes and if I refuse to him the CMS will take an extra 20% from me.
How is this fair? What type of twisted system are they running? All managed by computers and drones who refuse to take anything into consideration other than a ridiculous calculation system.
I know not a penny of this will go on my son, effectively I am paying maintenance so he can pay maintenance to year another child he has not seen. Will he wait until she is over 1 and then use her as his cash cow!
This country is finished!
Do I have to keep paying my ex wife maintenance whilst my daughter is studying at uni?
We have two children, one has finished a degree and I will be retired living on a pension. My former wife has an income from a business.
CMS is totally unfair specially for fathers, if you really want the system to change please sign petition 'https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/168993'; get your families and friends to sign it too, thats the only way we can change the system.
I fought for my husband against the csa and his greedy spiteful ex wife. All together 12 years. Yes it was hard work everytime they reassessed they falsified arrears, once he paid those oh look more arrears , also we notified them 13 years ago that they were abroad and using false addresses to claim child benefit tax credits.
I have fought and been successful every time. I put in stage one complaint , stage two, then independent case examiner. Who upheld the case, we were refunded 4000. They were severely scolded!
The biggest case I took them to court and his ex wife as they were not habitual resident and have not been for 13 years they took 517 a month deductions from earning , well I gathered my evidence reported her for fraud got evidence of non UK schools , csa new this but still would not do anything.
Court day she didn't turn up she sent no evidence just abusive emails trying to make my husband look bad, not that she would know in their short marriage 17 years ago when she cheated!
The judge asked the csa for their evidence that she was in the Uk, they had none.
He closed the case from the first time we told them 13 years ago, which created 28.000 over payment back to my husband. Thank you very much....
She now has to pay it back, and soon fraud squad will be on her case.
So don't give up if your right and you can prove it fight it.
Lodge a stage one complaint, if your not happy stage two, then it tells you ,you can go to independent case examiner they will go through everything.
Ask for your subject access request records from csa its free go through them with a fine tooth comb.worse man hating organisation ever created , that gets abused by bitter women, agreed not all are like that I wasn't with my sons dad, government thinks your child is worth 82 a month child benefit but then takes hundreds from your pay shocking.....Good luck ??
The (soon to be ex-) wife and I live in Dubai and we are trying make amicable arrangements to separate. She will move back to the UK with my 3 year old and step daughter (hers from a previous relationship) while I stay here and continue to work. Using the CMS calculator she would be eligible for £609pm but she is coming up with a figure of £2800pm which she thinks is reasonable. That is more than my gross income when we were living in the UK! The alternative is that she decides to stay here where Sharia law would have precedent and effectively bankrupt me. She is worried that I will not pay her once she returns to the UK, of course I will want to make sure my daughter is warm, dry and safe but her figure is unreasonable. How can we set up a legally binding document to put her mind at rest that I will make the regular maintenance payments, and what is the way to come to amicable agreement on the monthly payments?
I work 80 hours a week just to afford to eat! She has no mortgage, a job taking home £1400 a month, child benefit and is able to claim working tax benefit because my £1114 a month doesnt count towards her income! Guess what just like every other sorry man who tells a similar story, she used a legal aid solicitor to try and stop me ever seeing my son again! what a scumbag just like every case listed above. When will someone wake up and stop alienating men and stop giving all our money to sad, nasty spiteful mothers
My question is as the CSA doesn't seem to help and I've spent enough on my legal team already - can I credit my petrol I will spend meeting her halfway against my child support?
Its seems to have cut off the rest of my comment, anyway in summing up.
I am not having a rant at mothers, far from it - I do firmly believe that a child needs his mother, its vital - but we have to as a country find a way that allows the father to continue without interference. Social services want nothing to do with it, the Child Maintenance service are Unable to do what they are meant to be doing. So the only way to get the Government to listen to us as Parents is to make ourselves heard. This relatively new to me, well the hassle that is, but I am no longer willing to sit and complain on websites, at home, in the pub, in court! The only way to get anything done is to stand up and be counted, we are the Taxpayers, we are the Voter, but most importantly we are the Parents!!!
I will not let this lie, and neither should you. Write to your MP, ask for an appointment and flood their offices until they are forced to take action!!
Good Luck all,
I will keep you updated:)
Jp
I have just contacted my MP regarding the disgusting behaviour I am experiencing with the CMS. Every advisor you speak to seems to have a different version about the same issue, no consistency whatsoever. My wife and I split 4 years ago and I have paid in excess of £60,000 direct into her account over this period. I earn £40,000 a year gross. I reduced the amount I was willing to give her in late 2014 considerably as I needed to live myself and what do you know, I am no longer relevant to my sons upbringing. Not welcome at 'our' home, not welcome to pick him up from school, not welcome(blocked) from contacting her regarding my son, except through a solicitor(of which she gets legal aid, I do not obviously).
Its taken so long for me to go to court to seek a contact order finally as I am actually gutted it has got to this stage. In 2015 my wife contacted the CMS as she was unhappy with me reducing my payment £500/month for my son, they then set a lower figure of £83.81/week and I continued to make the £500/month payment. Now since I have been 'denied access' the payments went up in January and I was not informed. CMS had sent the Annual Statement to my ex wife, so she was complicit in knowing that the payments had gone up. Now in August I get a letter stating I owe £1200 and I phone them to ask for the statement to be sent to the address I live in, the same one they send the threatening letters too - 3 months later i am still waiting after 5 request and an offer to pay for them to send it by secure mail!! Now I've been told I am to pay an additional 20% indefinitely, as far as I can see this is punitive and illegal as far as I am concerned. Criminal's gets less time than the 12 years i am getting.
**The whole system is shambolic to say the least, for those that say it isn't set up to favour Mothers - I ask you one thing, where are all the forums for mothers fighting to see their kids?
**How many mothers have to get(and pay for) solicitors, just to maintain the slightest bit of contact with their child.
**How many mothers have to sit with the agony of thinking their Child doesn't care about them, until we can wade through the system and get a court order?
**It all comes down to the welfare of the child, but in most cases that's just a fallacy....when you have to go to court to sort out your kids contact - YOU HAVE FAILED AS PARENTS!!! I was too soft and my son will always think I didn't care for the time it took me to win contact again and this is now another thing that will destroy me as a father. How can I in good conscience ever tell my son how his mother made life so difficult for me to see him, without destroying how he sees his mother. I cant, of course I cant...for it would be for me and not for him I would be saying it! No I have to sit and listen when I see how 'hard his mum works to buy him things', when he asks me to watch him play football or swimming I have to say I am working as she will cause
Its a total disgrace. Ask your kids who they'd rather stay with and it's dad all day long but guess what......? The woman some how automatically get to keep them.
The system is so messed up.
The CSA gave used a tax year from when I was in permanent employment from 2011 to 2012 tax year. My question shouldn't they have used my latest tax year... I. E. 2015 to 2016??
The HMRC sent me a letter stating that I have overpaid tax but also stated what my total over the year. The CSA have not taken into account I work 39 weeks a year and used current wage slips but CSA have not taken thid into account if I don't work, I don't get paid. But still expect me to pay through my holidays. This for me does not seem right. Anyone got any ideas what I have to do.
Also my earnings used to calculate payments have used a wage slip but used this only to calculate payments and not considered what I actually earned.
Anyone got any advice please?????
Cheers
I have used the calculater on the government website to work out how much maintenance I should be paying but I'm not sure if the figure it has given is the total amount payable which would then be divided equally between the 3 mothers or whether the calculater is applicable to me considering the circumstances. Can someone help me with this?
Thanks in advance
The simple fact is that males are viewed as providers and the state has built a system where a woman is financially better off by ending the relationship and denying contact with your children.
Why would any man not warn their son's and mate's against having children?
Not only is it financial suicide but you and your children will have your hearts ripped to shreds by the lies of everyone involved.
The only advice I ever had from my parents was to never get married and I ignored it. There is no incentive for women to make it work. They may start off nice enough but it's all an act. By the age of 30-35 they will be so desperate for a child as they are heading for the wall with mounting debts from all the clothes they've got from trying to share a guy & you are getting to be financially independent probably in your own home and all they see are £'s.
Check out the dating sites and see how many are single mum's stating how much they have Inc their own home. Put on you are a single dad with kids and they don't want to know because your ex will be a psycho (their word's) and that you have no resources because you are being sucked dry by the CSA.
To kill a fire you have to starve it of oxygen and stay away from women. For the guys posting here it's too late but you owe it to guys everywhere to warn them.
Try going to citizens advice for help about CSA to be told there's nothing they can do and notice how much information from the CSA is in their office about claiming it.
Try writing to your MP about it. The CSA is a private company and they have no control over it.
Try writing to the CSA about over payments they have written to you about and ask for it back to be told there's nothing they can do.
And then realise that even though you pay your kids don't even get it if the mother is on benefits. Guess who will bare the front of that when you're in family court seeking access!? You!
Good luck to each and every guy out there. To those guys who get away with not paying, you are my heroes and not the villains that the media portrays you as.
Gender equality should be that. There is enough child care and a willing father to share the care so all the benefits should be stopped when accusations made are proven false and criminal proceedings should then begin. I don't care which gender parent you are, stopping a child from seeing a loving parent by dishonest means IS child abuse
I decided to end our relationship as my partners mother was interfering too much in our relationship and controlling what we did as a family (me, my partner and my 1 yr old daughter)
My partner has fabricated a statement which has involved me getting a "non molestation order and a pending "occupational" order. I have never been violent to my partner but she has managed to convey the courts, I have a hearing for this on Wednesday. I plan to contest the order.
We have a shared mortgage £800 per month, my partner has been on job seekers since July 18th 2016. She has not made her share of the mortgage £400 last month and this month.
I received a letter from the child maintenance services last week stating I have to pay £400 per month for my 1 yr old daughter.
I cannot afford to run the house and pay the £400 child maintenance, i understand i can apply for a variation but it states that the child has to live at the property. Anybody been in this situation or advise accordingly?
Where do I stand. The court order states he is to pay 325 when he starts paying it.
Also my partner is responsible for 6 children in all, but they say they only take 3 into account when working his amount payable out .
Many thanks .
My partner and I recently split up, and there is no way we will reconcile.. I've tried getting access to my son (6 months old) through her and it's not working, she won't let me see him.
Now I'm willing to pay maintenance, but here the thing - I was made redundant from my last job this year and received a good package when I left, Q1, will this go into consideration calculating maintenance?
Recently I've set up a business, and it's starting to generate income, I'm going to take a directors loan out of the business and at the end of the year that will be offset with any dividend payments due from the company I set up (I hope you're still with me).
Q2 - will this affect my maintenance amount? As I am not receiving any income that will get taxed, until I pay corporation tax and tax on dividends (it's all above board).
I'm being told to pay £230 per month for my daughter. However I now have 2 other children and am debt up to my eyes.
After paying my bills each month I'm left with £200 to last me. Now I'm being told I have to pay this in maintenance.
Is there anything I can do please. This is a really stressful time an I'm in need of help
My partners ex wife receives csa from him for their son .We have my partners daughter living with us from the same wife so was wondering even though his ex is on benefits and sick pay ,should she be paying us csa for the daughter ?we haven't received anything as yet.
Thanks
separated 3 years ago, she have our two girls and won't let me see them. girls are 9 and 5.
but the issue is that when we separated she applied for child maintenance and told them that we have not lived together ever, so she could claim benefits. it is not possible for me to prove that we did live together and as a result, the CSA is making me pay double. i still have two years left to pay and than it's back to normal 20%.
when we did live together, first 6 years, all my money, naturally, went towards family and the house. now i am having to pay again and it is draining.
any advice?
many many thanks
the chef
My ex and I are both disabled, and receive ESA (same amount each) She is in social housing, so gets all her rent paid, I'm renting privately and have to top my HB up. We've agreed on £5 a week as a token, plus I have my daughter 3 days a week (only 1 overnight though) I spend on average £25 a week taking her out, on food and treats. I also take her shopping for school shoes etc. and have her extra nights in school holidays.
I'm struggling financially, and it plays on my mind that my ex wife receives child tax credits and child benefit. Should these come into the equation?
I will be shortly moving in with my new partner and I currently pay £120pm to my ex. £100pm to childminder and I have my boy stay with me 2 nights a week and I have him 2 days a week on my days off. Now due to me have being relocated cus of work my ex has now gone from full time work down to part time and wants me to pay more which I have no problem doing so but wants more due to the fact I will have 2 incomes in my new household (mine & new partners) will csa look at that or is it just on what I earn? My ex won't let my new partner look after my child unless I'm there which I can understand but not if she wants her to pay towards my son as well? When I moved out of my ex house I went into shared housing and because of this I couldn't take my sky/internet along with me so instead of cancelling it I left it there and carried on paying the bill every month. Now I will be moving into my own place I've told ex I'll be taking that with me from which I was told I'm out of order in doing so taking away the Internet & tv from my son.
Any help on guidance on this matter Wilkins be grateful thanks
The calculations and advice i am working through with the CMA clearly state total gross income as stated on P60..... there is also a link to another article further down the page "A guide to child support payments" this also states Gross...... this obviously makes a big difference to calculations - can someone help as I have had conflicting advice from CMA etc and this has caused arguments with my ex-wife as I have shared advice on good faith which has then proven to be incorrect and she now thinks I'm trying to pull a fast one....
I also have a large percentage of my pay via a once a year bonus which is based on business performance and they CMA are claiming that this makes no difference and that 12 flat payments will be calculated, so in essence they will demand a higher proportion of my monthly net pay and make finances almost impossible to balance...is this correct, seems like i'm paying in advance for a bonus that might not come??
help !!!! Thanks
Schnell
My question is this.
I have been off work sick during this month and will be short on money this month. As my income is less this month do I still have to pay the agreed amount to my ex wife and go into arrears on bills like council tax etc or do I pay less this month and go back to the agreed amount next month?
I would also like to add this won't put my children in any disadvantage as I have them 3 times a week and buy them food etc on top of what I pay.
Thanks
The CMS will look at your total earnings for the year less any pension payments you make. I know because I went to court to argue exactly the same point and had written evidence from my employer to say overtime was not guaranteed and could be withdrawn at any time and the same for the bonus payment. The only way you will pay less is if once they have worked out your payments including o/t etc is if at the next review your wages are 25% less.
You can't reason with these people , your living expenses are not taken into account. Ultimately you earn what they say you earn.
thank you
We have both remarried and she had 3 more kids with her new husband. They fight like cat and dog and we had been to court several times over harrasment, domestic violence and the kids happiness. Last may, the 4 kids all came to live with me and my wife. 2 of the kids have refused to have any contact with her since then and the other 2 stopped seeing her in August. She took it back to court when I refused to make all 4 kids go to her for christmas.. she is having an hour a week supervised contact with the 2 kids who want to see her via social services due to their concerns.
I now get child benefit and child tax credits but have been reduced to a 25 hour working week around the school run. It has totally destroyed my business but i'm batling on.
I applied for child maintenance but because she had a baby in April has 3 kids and is on benefits , they said she isnt working and is zero rated.. but her husband is working.. they have a council house.. We had to move out of our rented house and move in with my dad on order to cut costs due to my cut in earnings... I've heard that I may be able to get the childcare element of WTC to enable me to get child care and work more hours, does anyone know if that is the case?
I have a question, I was working abroad for non UK company and agreed to pay child maintance for my two boys as I don't want them to go with out. This was all agreed in the courts for the separation with my ex wife. Now im in a situation of not working how do I change the payments agreed in the courts and the process to do this.
Kind regards
Andrew
My company has reduce my o/t a lot therefore the top up has gone down, my ex has now contact child maintenance people and there is a calculation done on last year wage, which means I have to pay £712 which I cant afford, this year I am going to earn £10.000 less,to add to my problems ex has been to court , and I have to pay by wed £2400 for her deposit for a house and first months rent. And £400 every month after to help her with rent which she don't need,
I don't know what to do as £1112 a month is more than I can afford after my mortgage and living costs I will be left with nothing or in debit every month
I am paying £320 rent.
Does anybody think this is too much csa?
Your website advises the the CSA uses a NET figure of your income, that is true, but for anyone currently going through this process it will be the Child Maintainnace Service which they deal with as it has replaced the CSA.
They go off your GROSS income which, in theory, should make no difference but if you have lots of decudctions at source then it defintely does.
I work away on a 28/28 rotation.
I have them nights fri, sat, sun when im home so 4 weekends
My parents have them the same fri, sat , sun 2 weekends while im away
I just received a pay cut. quite a big one. And asked to reduce the payment by this % I am loosing my ex came back stating about annual reviews in our min of agreement etc and solicitor and csa will check.. no csa involvement yet...
My question Is my weekly is in US $ variable by the exchange rate.
my nights with the kids how would that be calculated..
It all seems very vague and not very concerned about personal circumstances on the csa calculator..
I have no issues paying but the calc says I am over paying even on less than 52 nights
His ex wife is claiming that he HAS to pay until he is 20 and that she can prove it but I have searched and searched and cant find any documentation to clarify this.
I would be extremely grateful for a response.
I gave my ex all the equity in the house when we separated and have been paying her 20% of my take home ever since, as I no longer get to see my sons I wanted to know how much I could legally reduce my payments by?
Can I just check something . You say the csa calculate payments based on net income . Their current website says based on gross ? Could you confirm as it significantly effects what myself and My partner end up paying his ex wife
I paid my ex maintenance all the time my daughter lived in SA which was for 12yrs, I also paid for the flights for my daughter to visit me once 1yr and twice the following (alternate yrs) this was always last minute and cost me at least £1000 a flight because my ex insisted that it had to be direct flights only. The last flight we paid for (my new girlfriend at the time now wife) we transferred the money to my ex to pay for the rtn flight her end as it was slightly cheaper. It then turned out that they were both moving back to the UK and the money we sent actually paid for my daughters single ticket and hers (cheeky cow)
The question I would like answered is do I still have to pay maintenance for my daughter ( I've been paying my daughter direct since she was 18) my new family means I have 2 new daughters and we do find it hard to make ends meet sometimes.
I have a separation agreement with my wife which stated she got all proceeds of the sale of our house over £100k and I also pay £700 per month for our two girls.
The maintenance amount is due to be reviewed this month and I have advised her that because my wage is now over 30k less per year I can only afford to pay her £400 per month. She says this is not enough for her and that until we agree a fee I have to keep paying the £700 per month or she will get the money from me through the courts. The girls stay with me two nights every fortnight.
£400 per month would still pay her current mortgage.
Can she do what she is threatening to do?
Ive got 3 children with my soon to be ex wife (finalising divorce) and have been seeing my gf for 2 yrs. My gf is now pregnant with my child and already has 2 children. We will shortly be moving in together and my current gf is saying I can get my child maintenance payments reduced. It looks like i can get 25% discount of the payment which will mean over £100 off what i pay. I have a decent relationship with my Ex and want to keep it that way as i can see my kids whenever i want, i would also feel bad on my kids if they were £100 worse off. Has anyone else been in the same situation and not agreed a discount or not the full amount of discount?
Caught between a rock and a hard place at the moment and interested how others have handled this situation!
Cheers!
I have been paying £100 a month for my daughter as well as adding money in her saving account also I contribute financially in other ways clothes holidays etc all documented her mother has now demanded I pay £200 a month she has just aquired a property wether social housing or morgtage I do not know I have offered to pay for my childs bedroom furniture she has stated she has taken care of it and know demanded she wants £200 a month can she apply for more money from the csa?
If he ends up seeing his dad under the 52 nights a year will my husband end up paying more Child Support maintenance even though he's still go the other two between 52 - 104 nights a year?
His ex wife is very bitter and said to CSM that she will be now having him 7 days a week which isn't true. He himself has said it's only sometimes he might want to stay at home. We could end up having him just under the 52 nights a year but he still will cost money to feed etc and train fares to bring him to our home. Anyone know what the score is and whether my husband will end up paying more CSM?
My partner has paid child support for his 2 children since 2004, the eldest is 20 and now doing nothing accept claiming benefits. The other is almost 18 and for the past 2 years has been at college - when he feels like going. A couple of months ago he said he no longer wanted to go to college and wanted to live on benefits, after a talking to he decided to continue with college. However a couple of weeks ago he decided to contact his father via text saying he wanted nothing more to do with him we know he now gets £400 a month in benefits for something but have no way of knowing if he is in education. My partner is willing to still pay whilst his son is college, but has no way of finding out if he is still attending and his ex would only lie to get the money- any ideas how he could find this out would the CSA be able to help?
The old court order only gave me 82 overnights per year, but with the new court order it works out at 103.5 nights per year which is right in-between the CMS overnight categories of 52-103 and 104-155. The financial difference between the 2 categories is £70.
What is the ruling on this?
How do we resolve this?
Would splitting the difference be the best and recommended option?
Any help appreciated
I seem to have an unique situation where I am both self employed and have a salaried job.
After seeking advice from the independent body they ask you to ring I am still confused.
If I am subsidising my business (it'd a start up) does the amount of money I pay from my salary into my business get taken into account for the purposes of child maintainance?
Any help really would be appreciated
I've also recently learnt that csa take into consideration working tax credits/ child tax credits I will receive. Is that some sort of joke?
Two of them have lived with me for the last year I don't get a penny from there mum but in still paying the same amount I was wen they lived with her is this write or should I get a reduction
We really can't get on so I was wondering what my financial liability would be if we split.
We only dated for about 18months before she got pregnant. Just before birth, she moved from her rented house - into a house wholly in my name (which is mortgaged). So she's lived with me for nearly four years. She never went back to her job after maternity leave and refuses to get another job.
I realise I'll be paying child maintenance. My concern is what maintenance my parner(!) can demand. I understand we have a joint responsibility to provide a house but she has no means - and seems to be in no hurry to get any.
She'd happily stay in the house and have me pay for everything and move in with my Mum.
Anyone been in a similar situation?
I have had a family based arrangements for 11 years with my Ex (Mother A who i had 1 child with) without any issues. but since splitting up with my latest partner (Mother B who i had 2 children with) Mother A now wants to go through the CMS. I am more than happy to pay what i am legally obligated to for both mothers. my question is this...
If i have all 3 Children, 2/3 nights per week and pay maintenance for all 3 through the CMS.
Will the payments be split equally for example. if i had to pay £60 per week, would mother A get £20 (1 child) mother B get £40 (2 children)?
i keep getting mixed answers
child maintenance options say my total weekly amount i need to pay is split between both mothers
Mother A is saying that i have to pay her the full amount for 1 child regardless of the other 2 i pay for and would also have to pay the full amount for those also
Any help would be appreciated
Regards.
Also, im still paying for debt accrued from the relationship (flooring in house etc) and also paying for cooker and sofa still.
The only other issue is that, i am living at my parents house so, although im paying them money and buying his food here, they help with his care, school runs etc when im working.
Also wondering if i can go about securing 50/50 care officially on paper just in case things did eventually turn sour.
Thanks in advance
I wonder if you tell me if the resident parent, in this case my daughter's mother, is legally liable for school fees for trips, dinners etc as I pay her maintenance via the CSA. The school keep chasing me for 'debts' that I feel she has incurred and they can't seem to separate this on the payment system they use. I chose for her to have certain extra-curricular activities for which I pay.
Many thanks.
I will get separated from my wife soon , the thing is all benefits is on my name ( Child Benefits.. etc.. )
How I can change it to my wife name without any delay ,
Please help ..
Thanks
My ex and I agreed on a child maintenance figure of £66/wk. Based on the boys staying with me 1 night a week as my job allows, but they have tea with me 3 nights per week. Would love to have them more.
Now the xmas holidays are with us, I am having them every other night to stay. I have asked my ex for a reduction in the maintenance and she is refusing, lawfully how do I stand?
She has also asked me to have them for a full week in August and still expects me to have to pay full money?
The calculator is a bit vague and doesn't allow for any nights, where I feed them, bath them etc.
Can anyone help?
I work 5 days a week on low wage and have no savings so can't afford the deposit for my own place let alone the price of rent where I live! Then there's all the bills on top!
Am I entitled to any benefits? Tax credits, housing benefit? Help with the cost of a deposit? Surely the fact I still have to house 3 children 3 days a week means I can get help? I'm worried the fact my name is on a mortgage (even tho I don't live in the house) will mean I won't be entitled to anything?
my ex got married last month and moved 140 miles away :( I still see my kids in weekend though.
I'm a part time student at uni and work a full time job. she has just broken the existing family based arrangement we had and is going through the CSA route basically she wants more cash I'm currently discussing it with her but she won't back off?
Would anyone know that do part time students at uni who work full time need to pay the 15% CSA rate?
When my eldest is 18 can I just pay her portion directly to her if she goes onto further education i.e. £250? And then presumably I continue paying the other £250 to the mother until by youngest is also 18 and then I can pay it directly to him?
Or can I pay it directly to them without their mothers consent from 16?
I have only just got a new job working part time which doesn't pay a fortune, so I need to get financial help with rent and bills from the government, however am pleased I'm working again.
My question is my ex partner mother to my daughter is now claiming I have to pay maintenance etc, which I don't mind paying providing it's reasonable and goes to my daughter,
How much would I be expected to pay? Or what is considered reasonable?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
where does my son go to get advice. His wife has just moved out with their 7 year old down the road to rented flat. one week ago. He is still paying the joint mortgage till Jan 15 to put the house on the market. He cant just know because over the 7 years she did no housework abd alothough he did on sundays the house is in a bad state of repair and he is now repairing and cleaning the place to get a reasonable price. He worked overtime every weekend to provide as wife worked part time but would not give him any money to pay mortgage, utilities or even any food. She feeds the child snacks and no meals and now the child wont eat dinners. She has just gone to child maintenance and managed to get 17percent. is this right.......? he wants to take his child at weekends but she says only every 2 can she do this. He signed the car over to her a few months ago as he could not afford to keep it. Does he get a solicitor an how is the best way to get the correct outcome in all this as it is making me quite ill. where are the responses posted???
My ex is living in the family home with my son, daughter is starting uni.
I'm currently paying the morgage and associated insurances.
1. How do I calculate the amount of maintainance I pay, taking into account that I'm paying the mortgage?
2. Do I start owning more of the property than my ex as I'm laying the morgage?
He is now ignoring all my calls and texts, where do I stand on payments and access?
I can't carry on without any help from him, my children are being severely affected.
Hi Pal, I think that you just need to learn to accept your partner has a daughter to a previous woman. He obviously loves you, "NOT HIS EX", so just look ahead and move on, plan your future together, don't dwell on the past, plan holidays together, be there for him as he will find it tough, every time you bring the subject up or pass a wee cheeky comment about his child, you'll create a gap between both of you!,.... don't, it hurts,... I know!!, tell him it'll be all right, you'll both work it out. If and when he gets his daughter over to stay, learn to treat her like your own, it'll be hard at first, but you will, it's not his daughters fault about her situation, the more your partner sees you and his daughter getting on, the happier he'll be.
HELP HELP HELP HELP.
HELP HELP HELP HELP.
my daughter has stayed overnight with her father 3 times a week since she was 1, she is nearly 8 now and he has never paid child support for her, he has contributed to the odd pair of shoes though. Should he be paying child support payments as he is under the impression that he doesn't have to pay because he has her overnight 3 times per week.
Regards
Marcia Cummins
We planing get married but I'm scared he makes a difference bretween his daughter and our kids. He has told me before that our kids will be a blessing because he having them with the woman he loves. I'm still scare tho. I think I'm a little immature because I don't like talking bout his daughter and every time he pick her up and drop her I feel like sick I think to much about it . One of my friends told me that I feel like that because I don't know what his ex telling him and text him etc. He also said I shouldn't worry because he will marry him and have kids and our kids will have both of their parents while his daughter won't. I know we will have problems bout the topic of his Daughter. Some people say why I am with him if I don't like the fact he has a daughter. I tell them because I really love him and they say well you have to deal that he has a daughter and if you really love him don't make his daughter be a obstacle to stop being with him. Also if you love him you have accept him how he is and the mistakes he made in that past plus don't feel bad because he had a daughter before you. My friends always say that. Please need help and many advices please !!! Need help on my questions from the top and dealing he has a daughter how can I deal with it I'm bealry 20 and he's 22 !! Mom says maybe I feel this way because I'm young and also it's more the thinking of his ex what she says to him or do and vice versa!!! Need help ! Please !!!
Is there any way I can get help/advise so I can seeing my daughter or even have my name put on Birth Certificate also without having mothers consent as she refuses .
I have had a DNA test to Prove she is my child
I welcome any Constructive advise
Thank you
From my ex about 6 yrs now. We live in different states and
Hes really only even had visitation during school breaks.
He went with he's father for 3 weeks to Mexico on vacation
And now he doesn't want to pay child support for this month.
Can he legally do that?
I offered to pay my son the money instead to help him but she refused this.
Question1: My son is moving to live with me next month. Is my ex wife responsible to pay me maintenance for our son? In effect, that would mean no monies need be transferred between us as we have a child each. I would think that would be the case, and would be 'fair'.
Question 2: My daughter is studying for her A Levels in 6th form, and is looking to go to university from September 2015. She is currently 17, will turn 18 in October, and will turn 19 during her first term at University next year. Legally, when do my payments to my ex wife cease, meaning I can help my daughter direct?
Cheers
with regard to maintenance, will I have to pay for him? Wife claims I will and she can get a court order to that effect. Any advice would be welcome.
My husband has been paying maintenance through a divorce order for the last 12 years, he has increased this by £60 per month. His ex wife has been in touch with the Child Maintenance Service, no doubt to get more money, although if she had asked he would have provided. He hasn't seen his child for 6 months because she claims it is up to the child if he wants to see his father but continues to support him. Does anyone know if a Child Maintenance order would supersede an order agreed through divorce?
Thanks
After paying maintenance for my daughter for the last 15 years and several trips to court to get what I am entitled to, to be able to make life decisions for her and to see her regularly, I now find myself in a fantastic position where my daughter has now come to live with me on a permanent basis, I say fantastic because that's how it should be................
Unfortunately though it is marred by her mother acting like a petulant child !
She throws her out........literally by the arm, refuses to give her anything other than the bag she has over her shoulder, even making her get changed out of her school uniform whilst she watched !
I find myself in a quandary........ do I claim for child maintenance from her ?
is it worth it ?
She has been claiming benefits from the state from the moment we split up nearly 14 years ago !
Because she is on benefits...........only £5 per week will be deducted and payed to me to help support our child, but according to the child benefit people, the child maintenance options people will take 20% off of that payment ! so i ask again..........is it worth it ?
For 15 years I have payed nearly £300 to her every month..........without fail !
This isn't about me or her mother, it's about my daughter, but I ask you........... is it fair ?
Why is her mother still able to claim benefits after 14 years, she is perfectly able to work !
Why does the system favour the lazy or bone idle ?
I feel better after that little vent..............
thanks
Frustrated ! (is it worth it ?)
My husband and I are thinking of moving overseas with my
Son who doesn't ever see his dad. Currently we get payments through the CSA attachment of earnings as he refuses to pay,
Can the CSA still claim this money for me if we move and have it paid directly into my sons uk bank account? Please advise
Im not an expert but if i were in your position i would protect property as thats easy pickings for them if they cant arrest income or you have no money in your account.
They wont arrest you, as they can take property. Arrest and prison are the last resort after all else fails. As is suspension of license and passport.
I dont know how the latter two are supposed to help a guy pay. Its all nonsense to me.
Im pretty sure you have the right to ask them to suspend any action while you get everything verified and get the facts right.
besides my mum and dad I have no other family to look after her when I work away, they are getting old and I am struggling to arrange other things, not only that I now am paying for a house and car totally from my own wage, I can barely afford to live, my daughters mum however is claiming the tax credits, working tax credits, not only that she has a half million pound house paid for by her father, works under 16 hours a week but then self employed and gets paid cash, she has a huge family and rarely has her overnight although has plenty of time too.
basically I need to know could I reduce my days down to 2 instead of 3 and make these for example Saturday and sunday, so I would not have to pay childcare and rely on my parents to have her.
its that or I will have to quit my job.
please help! i love my girl to bits, i worked hard all my life.
My bro who is separated too but started to earn recently pays much more and is left with pennies to scrap on and he is in debt....how is this fair?
Why cant be there a better system? ....... TBH I know there wont be better system as its all too much to change and govt cant be bothered. Sad for some parents.
My ex is a compulsive lier who had an affair for nearly 10 years. As soon as I discovered her affair I went from being a great father to a deadbeat dad overnight. Why? Money? All I want is to see my children because they have a right to a father. All she cares about is money...want more? Just stop overnight access and limit a fathers time with their children.. Easy isn't it? That is the wrong incentive. I would happily pay any rate of CSA but I also want to tuck my children into bed at night and spend time with them. Vindictive ex wives won't let you do this because of the structure of the payment service. The only people this harms are the children and we need to see more 50/50 shared custody agreements popular in sensible countries.
Today's solution: An expensive court order, after expensive mediation all profited from by other parties - some cannot afford it and it is shameful that all this does is line the pockets of solicitors and other parties when it could be better spent on the most important thing...the children.
We have seven children between us.
Two each from previous relationships and three from our relationship.
We have always paid Maintenance, [child and spousal] for my husbands children and his ex... the eldest of his children [14] has now decided that she doesn't like the 'rules' we have in our house [normal stuff like, to earn pocket money you can help with some chores, mobiles off at 10pm, homework comes first - all that kind of thing] and so has decided she prefers the 'do as you please' attitude at her mothers, we have been told by her Mum just to leave her alone and let her do what makes her happy - which of course is frustrating... to add insult to injury her mother has now decided she is entitled to more money from us...
Does anyone have any advice over this? or has been in this situation?
it feels pretty horrible at the moment everyone wondering when or if we will see her again, she ignores our three youngest and claims they are no longer her family :-(
but she is choosing not to see us anymore rather than having an absent father - so I guess my question is, as we are getting no help what so ever from her Mum is regard to sorting this whole teenage tantrum mess out - can we be forced to pay more money? We would just like to sit down with her and discuss what the issue is and then find a way forward but sadly that is being blocked each time we ask - by her Mum...:-(
Her younger sister still lives with us in the 50/50 split as before [ie they spend half there time at each house as we live is close proximity - Mon, Wed at ours and Tues & Thurs at Mums, then alternate weekends at each home]
Any advice and or guidance would be gratefully received please...
Thank you
If you people have kids it's your responsibility to pay for them. So many pathetic men on here moaning about having to "support" children and that their exs don't spend a penny on them. Ok, report the ex to hold services for neglect as I imagine your child is a skeleton? And completely homeless and destitute? Oh, they aren't starving and they have a roof over their heads? Guess how that happened!
And some of these women, stop being vindictive!
I am seriously seriously contemplating saving up the money for a trip to the CSA offices, a couple of jerry cans of petrol and a multipack of lighters. my ex won't any money when i am behind bars!
I was wondering if someone could tell me if I have a mutual agreement with my son's mum and I am paying each month via a standing order, can she still go to the CSA? The amount I pay is half of what the CSA would take and if I paid anymore I would lose my house. I would like to know what the CSA would do if she decided to go to them, even though I am paying an amount each month.
Cheers.
But I still owe £6000 that I will have to half kill myself for a year to pay off. The best advice I could give you is don't work until the years have gone because the CSA are not human and they are not interested in anything you have to say. Example if you only can pay £10 a week because you are on low earnings and you have bills to pay, they don't care if they want £30 you will have to pay £30 end of. I have considered taking my own life in the 15 years of hell ive gone through with them. Best thing to do stay on the doul and they can only take £5 a week of you.
or is this just forum for comments without support or ideas' from a professional person!
because what i pay he's mother seems to be going in her pocket.
and not a penny towards my boy
I am married with 2 kids aged 4 yrs and 2 yrs. my girlfriend got pregnant by me and I find myself in a messed up situation. could you pls guide me as to how much child support benefit will I need to pay permonth to my girlfriend.
my wife does not work and I am planning to buy a house in a few months. my annual salary is 28 k .
what options do I have.
my oldest boy i am not on his birth certificate and not allowed to see him, my other boy i am not allowed to see i went to court and got rights to see him but she still wont let me see him i have been in touch with police and there not interested.
this country and rights to dads is a joke.
then lest month the csa have taken £429 off my wage for both sons. i rang the csa to find out why it was so much and they was not interested in listening to me saying its the law to pay for them.
yes i know its the law to pay for my boys,
but i only get £900 a month and rent and bills comes up to £800 a month.
i work 12 hour nights and the women on the phone told me to get an extra job or work overtime.
this country is a joke!!!
if i sign on benefits i can pay £5 a month but if i work i have to pay £429.
yet they get money already from my tax's because both mothers do not work and claim every penny they can
is there any way to reduce this????
can i now claim tax credits and family allowance for him he is 15, also what should my maintence be to her for my daughter? any advice would be appreicated.
My daughter is home for over 20 weeks a year and i have to collect her at times which is over 250 miles round trip. I just need some extra help with bills, food, heating etc.
Does the father have to continue paying for the child if the child's mother makes it impossible for the father to have a relationship of any kind with the child and the mother will not disclose her whereabouts to the father?
We have an intermediary who drops my boy off to me and picks him up again (The ex partners step father). I have asked him to sign a Receipt Book to declare that he has received the payment (as arranged) in cash. Does this have any legal standing? I have been paying my ex partner by cash for the last 12 months without any signature. If a signature on behalf of my ex partner is acceptable, then can any one give me any tips on the correct terminology to use? This is what I written (and has been signed once, today for the first time). : " I certify that the sum of £40 per week will be payed in cash to "______" . This sum is for the child support for " (my sons name)__ " . This cash is signed for on each occasion as agreed with all parties"
Is this good enough? Would this stand up in court?
Please help ! :)
Kind regards
He has never paid any maintenance towards him, and now he's threatening me with sole custody!!! This may sound horrible but does he have any rights for this!!!
Thanks
They have never paid any maintenance, saying they could'nt afford it, having the 2 other children to bring up. I knew they both have excellent jobs but, somehow they wangled it to show very low income. Could I still claim back dated maintenance from them? And if so how?
I see the children semi regular but not as regular as I wish hence a contact order is due in court early 2013 & the fact she won't let the children stay at mine?. The former family home was priced to sell & sold within 24hours of going on the market. The equity was split in her favour 60/40 as agreed by both parties. All the above & below has cost me around £1600 in solicitor fees & counting - they are surely the only winners.
I paid regular payments as advised by the CSa - £450 PCM for the 1st 5/6 months yet today I received a letter from the CSa stating from January 2013 this will increase to a average of £650 PCM (40% of my nett income). Of course I called the CSa & ask why, when etc etc brick wall came to mind.
She has now moved into a new house with the above man (who earns over £50,000 pa) my ex works part time but claims everything under the sun that she possibly can / could.
Finally my question is ......... Can your spouse leave YOU for another, then set up home with another, take 20% more equity as you ( as children live with her I thought this was only fair) yet still max you out to CSa & claim the 40%?
Hardly seems fair to me - her choice to live in the 1st place, whilst wouldn't want her back now at the time was gutted but looks like I have 10-15years of paying off her choice?
Any advice would really help but I am looking for actual law advice & not opinions.
My hubby pays maintence every month to his daughter, we are about to have a little one of our own and are sharing the maternity leave i.e he is having the 2nd half of my leave. Will he still have to pay his full maintence as he will only now recieve £135.00 a week whilst of maternity leave?
I have 9 yr old twins, pay 250 maintenance, not involved the csa, and currently living with a new partner. If things were to not work out with my new partner, how can I possibly pay 500 rent/mortgage on 1200 per month wages. It's my partners house and I worry that if things don't work out I'm going to end up homeless, and certainly not able to afford a place of my own where my children can come and stay with me every other weekend.
My limited understanding is that your ex (if you are still married) would be entitled to half of everything you own (unless previously agreed and documented otherwise) and as such could obtain half the value of the property.
Good Luck
I have 2 firms aged 10 and 5. Split up with my ex 3.5 years ago. I'm still paying £380 maintenance and £230 towards mortgage. Gave her more than enough time to sell the house. Now I have a new partner the kids suddenly don't want to see me. Not seen them in 6 weeks. Will the CSA cut back my payments if I'm paying towards mortgage?
The best people to speak to would be the citizens advice bureau.... the CSA are absolutely useless....
If you have proof (such as bank account records) that you have made payments then the CSA can't back date the claim.
Cory
This has actually been payed into my ex wife's bank since we split in 2009, as informal child support,(aged 17 in 6th form for another year) so I never see it.
I understand why it's been taken into account, but this seems at odds with the decision letter which states that the amount that the law says I need to live on is £71. They are not aware that I never see the £31.62.
If they were, would it make any difference? I hesitate to reclaim it from my ex. Do I have any options beyond virtual starvation?
Thanks,
Bob
Also does anyone know if reposesion companies have the right to take my car off me if he holds finance and will not pay it thanks
My ex now has a full time job earning more than me and received both working tax credits and child tax credits for my daughter. She also received the monthly child benefit. She is now demanding that I will have to pay for half the child care costs for when she is at work. I have my daughter at least 2 days a week when I am off work and she sometimes stays overnight with me at my parents. My father is retired and is willing to look after my daughter but my ex does noit want this and she wants to put my daughter to a child minder. Is it correct that my ex can claim towards childcare costs via child/working tax credits. I am worried that if I have to give more I will be strugglin financially as I spend around £50 just to get to my work and I wonder if in fact I am legally required to contribute towards childcare costs when I am providing for all other needs of my daughter. I feel that my ex is trying to gain more money for herself personally and I am only looking for accross the board fairness. Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you
I took this to mean that I could not be legally liable. Please could you clarify further. Thank you very much.
Please do not think that I am being callous it is just that I would like to know my legal position.
Thanks alot.
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