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Child support

Get help with child support or child maintenance arrangements.

New-born: what does our government support financially
Hello, we have been researching what benefits/credits there are with a first newborn. There seem to be a child benefit (capped based on income), childcare support, tax credit and Junior ISA. Is there anything we may have missed? Thanks
Child maintenance reduction when dependents increase - advice please!
I was hoping for a little advice re child support payments. We (my partner, specifically) are paying £1000 per month for child maintenance for two children (plus £350 per month spousal maintenance). The two children stay with us 2-3 nights per week and half of all of the holidays. My partner and I now have a new baby and…
Child support when care responsibilities are split
My friend has a son and daughter who have both lived with their mother since the divorce and his child maintenance payments were based on them staying with him for the weekend every other week and full weeks during school holidays. Recently the eldest started at college and moved in with him and he asked for a…
Child Maintenance - Household Bills?
Hi My (female) partner and I split up in August 2021. We have a now 3 year old son, and when we split up we were living in a house owned jointly by myself and her brother. When we split up, I moved out of the house and back in with my parents, so she and our son could stay in the house. Prior to splitting up we had an…
Maximum payment
Hello, Does anyone know if there is a maximum amount the CSA will take from your earnings? 3 or four children, can they take any more than 19% or is this amount distributed evenly to the parents only? Many thanks
Occupational adoption pay
Does anyone understand how this works? My wife works for the council and the rules on this are as clear as mud.
Child Maintenance Over 20
Hello, my ex husband and I divorced recently and have a 22 year old daughter. The Consent Order included ex paying a monthly amount towards daughter, until she turned 22. Daughter has SEN and long term disabilities and receives Universal Credit. Due to health issues, she may never be fully independent and may struggle to…
CSA Payment Calculations
Hello, I am after some help please. I have received the packs through the post to contact the CSA. I have read through and understand the amount is calculated by gross income less tax. I presume I work this out through my yearly gross from my p60 minus the total tax I paid for the year from my last pay slip from the…
Old support calculations
Hi, I’ve been trying to find the calculations that they used to use for child maintenance when they took into account the receiving parent’s income but can’t find anything about it all online. Can anyone shed any light please?
Do I have to pay all of the mortgage and child support?
Hi All Recently separated, dad of three, stay at home wife. Do I have to continue to pay all of the mortgage and child support or does the child support allowance cover the mortgage or do I pay half of the mortgage plus child support. My wife had an affair and I am now scraping by trying to afford new living accommodation…
Letter to complain about ridiculously low arrears payment
Posted for my sister... Ex-husband always did everything he could to avoid paying child support - he was given full-access but is the poster-boy for 'deadbeat dad' - never interested, would promise Christmas presents that never turned up, days out that never happened etc. Although CM ended many years ago he is still paying…
How do you have a successful CSA claim when the ex-partner is self employed?
Since 2012 my ex partner never paid the right amount of money for child support because he was a black taxi driver paying no tax. I then got to find out he was also claiming benefits at the same time pretending that he wasn't earning no money. Then he worked for a HGV company who paid his wages through my sons account so…
Do I need permission to take our child abroad?
I have a child with my ex, who shares his surname. Can I take my child abroad without informing him. Child has passport from when we were together. I would bring birth certificate and divorce papers to prove this. We are not on good terms, and he refuses to do swaps, and makes my life as difficult as possible. He visits…
Child Maintenance- attached to cost of living index?
Hi all, As we all know, cost of living has gone up a lot this year and it’s getting more difficult to pay the bills. I have two children that I receive child maintenance for, from their father, through the CMS. As the cost of living has gone up so much, is there likely to be an increase in the child maintenance payments…
Childcare vouchers beyond 16?
Is there any way to use unused vouchers or credit when the youngest child is over 15 or 16?I have been told by the provider that I have to go back to my previous employer from 7 years ago to ask them to payroll the payout of £1000. That employer doesn't want to citing cost and endangering the scheme. Surely there ought to…
Child Support / Tax Increases
A small and easily missed impact of the rise in tax will be the hit on those who pay child maintenance. In my own situation I pay my daughters' mother and stepdad monthly based on an annual calculation via the CSA website, which starts with my gross wage, less my pension contribution. So this year my payments go up based…
Child Support Query - Bit complicated!
Hi there, trying to help my ex a little as he's in a bit of a predicament! He has our two children which he contributes to informally, and has two children which live in in Trinidad which he pays to their mother monthly and sends money religiously via Western Union. Unfortunately, for him - he had a bit of a bad…
Children in Wales in reception, year one and year two to get free school meals by April 2023
All reception year schoolchildren in Wales will start receiving free meals from September this year, with pupils in year one and year two to get free meals by April 2023, the Welsh Government has announced. It's expected that all 200,000 primary school children in Wales will receive free school meals by 2024. Read the full…
Historic CSA Dissolved by DWP
I was awarded a mere £30,000 for child maintenance for my 3 children for 16 years, after zero cooperation from my self employed husband.This was taken to court and a charge was put on the house in favour of me on an estimation of maintenance owed in the name of the DWP. When my husband forced me to legally sell to get his…
REMO-Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Order
Hi all, has anyone got an ex who has moved to another country and stopped supporting their child, as in my case? My ex had been payinig through CSA for 5 years, suddenly got a job in Germany and now CSA can't do anything as he no longer resides here. My question is, has anyone out there gone the route I'm going with a REMO…

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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Child support

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