CSA Child Support - Advice please?

isica1903

Thanks for everyones replys. So what do you think I should do, offer her a set amount, because if she goes to CSA we will well and truly be in deep s***. What would be a reasonable amount? She lives far away btw 3.5 hours drive, OH does pick him up in school hols and the odd weekend, should that be taken into account when working out how much to offer her?

3onitsway

The child would have to stay overnight, for a minimum of 52 nights per year for it to make a difference.
For 52 nights 1/7th reduction,
104 nights 2/7th reduction, and so on.

Maybe you could offer her a set amount, paid direct to her bank account every week/month and make it clear that that is it - no extras!

But, if she has an idea of what he's earning, she can also look on CSA website for a calculation so may have an idea of what she could get.

pinkshoes

3onitsway wrote: »

New rules CSA only looks at the income coming into your household, it does not take into account mortgage, bills, council tax etc.

So technically they'd be better off if husband worked part time instead of full time, then looked after the kids for the other half of the week, and isica1903 would work part time when he was off, then look after the kids when husband worked?

That way they'd have the same income, paying the same bills, but the child support wouldn't bancrupt them!

3onitsway

pinkshoes wrote: »

So technically they'd be better off if husband worked part time instead of full time, then looked after the kids for the other half of the week, and isica1903 would work part time when he was off, then look after the kids when husband worked?

That way they'd have the same income, paying the same bills, but the child support wouldn't bancrupt them!

Mmmmm - Yes!

isica1903

Thanks pinkshoes, thats what I'm thinking. Although in reality it wouldn't work like that cos I would never get a job that paid enough lol. But it just seems so unfair, what about our children that live with us. If £300 is only a contribution towards his keep, does that mean our children are using up £600 each per month on food, rent, gas etc. I think not!! I'm now getting a good idea how my sil manages to have 6 kids and no work and still being able to have a very comfortable life!! (Nothing against her though, she's lovely and wouldn't take advantage at the cost of her kids).It just seems a bit strange to me that they don't look at any other circumstances, yes he may have a well paid job, but he works damn hard for it and it's not as if were living a life of luxury, we had to move away from family to afford to buy a normal 3 bed house in an ok area, now living in a building site for the last year cos can't afford to decorate and furnish it. Ok it's not that bad but just because he earns well people always assume we're loaded.

isica1903

Btw, if I earned anything, could they touch it or calculate it into the total income? we're not married don't know if that would make a difference

3onitsway

No - new rules only looks at NRP's income - you could be a millionairress and it wouldn't matter.

kpwll

My daughter has just come from a solicitor's meeting and she was told that her partner would have to pay 20% of his NET income to pay for 2 small children.

MrsTinks

£300 a month does seem a lot, BUT have you tried to calculate the costs of how much he spends at the moment? Is it anywhere near this?
I'd offer maybe £150 or £200... enough to hopefully keep her from going through the CSA...
I wonder if you can use the "ah but you haven't paid for his keep here for the past 12 months so in 12 months we'll contribute to his upkeep again" - doubt that legally that would be something that can be carried out... but might make her think twice...

3onitsway

kpwll wrote: »

My daughter has just come from a solicitor's meeting and she was told that her partner would have to pay 20% of his NET income to pay for 2 small children.

Yes, 20% for two children. Unless your daughter and her partner have any children in their household.

Tell her to look on the CSA website, she can do a calculation there.