We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More » This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are - or become - political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

Child support

Get help with child support or child maintenance arrangements.

back dated child support
My son is now 26, but my husband left us when he was 12. Due to his irresponsiblity and drug abuse we lost our home and I have had to work full time to support ourselves not receiving any money from him at all. He was unemployed and of no fixed abode so there was no point in trying to claim anything from him I have now…
Ex has applied for variation in CM
I've recently received a letter from the CMS informing me that XH has applied for a variation in his CM payment. Apparently he's applying for a variation due to contributing to the mortgage on the FMH "with no legal obligation to do so", however although I live in the house with our children it has been ordered through the…
Confused about different childcare options
Hi, this is my first post. I've had a look through the forum but couldn't find a post that could answer all my questions. Basically my wifes had our second child (now 4 months old) and shes looking at going back to work in november (16hours a week, on minimum wage). We are currently looking at several different nursaries.…
Advice?
My husband pays £77 a week child support to his ex. His son is 18 is in college and works and has recently become a father himself. My question is when does a child stop being a child and surely if he's fathered his own child we shouldn't have to pay such a ludicrous amount? Advice would be grately appreciated.
Payment
Hi, I currently pay CM for my 17 year old daughter. I!!!8217;ve had no contact with her since she walked out just over two years ago (a teenage tantrum). I understand she is going to university in September and wondered if anyone knows what happens about CM. It is heartbreaking paying it knowing that her Father will not be…
flat rate - ESA and property rental
Hi Just need some clarity please, feel like I’m going mad, what I’m being told by CMS can’t possibly be right can it?? A NRP on contribution based ESA (lives in a mortgage free property) * can earn up to £125 per week (to a max of 16 hours) for permitted work * receive rental income from 3 properties – approx. £450/500 per…
Full time education defined
Hi Folks I'm trying to get some clarity on what full time education is? My daughter is 17 and attending FE College to do an NVQ level 2 in Beauty Therapy. This course runs for 36 weeks, 11 hours per week. The college say it is a Full time course, however the CSA and Child Maintenance Options state that full time education…
Unemployment because of illness
I need some advice on possible future retrospective claims for child maintenance payments. I've been diagnosed with a condition that is preventing me from working, so I've lost my job. I'm hoping to get this treated and find new employment in the future as I can't afford to not work. Do I still have to pay my ex for child…
Work child care
I work in an independent fee paying school and kids of staff who go to the school (and pay for this) have in the past been able to go to the after school care that the school runs free of charge. The school is looking to start charging at 50% of the normal rate for kids of staff members in the autumn. We've been told that…
Am I the only one who thinks it isn't right...
Basically my ex wife & I have 2 children, our daughter (13) lives with me & our son (10) lives with her. We split the care 50:50, as in our kids spend every weekend & all school holidays together. We both work & she has re-married. Her husband works as a social worker. Most people in this situation, i.e. with care of one…
Ex Wife Being a pain
Hi, Please can someone help? My ex wife keeps demanding to see three pay slips, every time I say I cannot afford to give more. I have always paid maintenance, on time and given extra when I can afford it. Our daughters prom is coming up, and she has gone spend crazy, I simply cannot afford to give any extra at present she…
Child maintenance...not
I have spent the last 3 years trying to get child maintenance from my ex for our two children, one of which is disabled. He is a self-employed contractor and claimed he only paid himself the minimum wage. I told them he was driving a two-year-old Mercedes 4x4 and went to the US on holiday lastyear so they did a variation…
Lump sum
Does my tax free, lump sum, from my pension, class as earnings, for the child maintenance?
Please Ignore - found my answer
Found the answer I was looking for - September 3rd. Thanks for stopping by. Have a nice day. I would delete post/thread if I could.
When does a father stop paying for Child Maintenance, daughter is 18
Hello When does a father stop paying Child Maintenance for his daughter who's 18 and she works part time. She's 19 in few months and is starting College in September to do an A Level part time? sunni
Back dated CSA
My parents broke up when I was 2 and I haven’t seen my mum since. She paid maintenance for a few months but stopped. The CSA tried to get it after this and couldn’t. My Dad tried to use the service until I was 18 but still no money. Can I try to get this for him now? I’m 30.
Not paying child maintenance
Hello, My ex and I separated when my son was little over a year old (he's now 7). In the first few years I took care of him almost exclusively (~5 nights a week) but since he started school full time my ex and I changed the arrangement for Thursday's - Sunday's, which has been fair for both of us ever since. We have never…
Arrears
Hi, Can anyone help please. Back in November 2016 I was in arrears to the tune of £1700. Since then I have paid the monthly amount as per letters from CMS, and I always understood that the payments were made up of “ongoing maintenance” which is the percentage of your wages that you should be paying, plus a bit extra…
Disclosing income for maintenance calculation
Hi, I'm a paying parent and I'm happy to pay the maintenance, but do I have to disclose to my ex partner the details of my P60 on a yearly basis? The amount needs to be calculated yearly, and it is, but nowhere does it say that I need to share confidential financial details to my ex. She and her solicitor are demanding my…
Clearance timescales for child support payments
Hi all, Hoping for some advice on where I can go to challenge the pay,ent clearance timescales being quoted to me by the CMS in regards to payments obtained by the enforcement agents. Little bit of background - There are currently two separate Liability Orders out with Marstons for collection, one relating to debt built up…

★ ★ ★ Meet your Ambassadors

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

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.

View All

Child support

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free

Child support

Discussion List

Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

🚀 Getting Started

Categories

Is this how you want to be seen?

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free