Child Maintenance (CSA) questions (merged)

Prudent

I am a parent who does not allow my daughter contact with her father. It was made for child protection reasons and I don't want to explain them to protect the people involved. And yet I agree with you! It was the hardest decision I have made and I wish, especially for my daughter's sake, that I had never been in that position. Everyone looses out, especially the child.

Turning_into_scrooge

Prudent wrote:

I am a parent who does not allow my daughter contact with her father. It was made for child protection reasons and I don't want to explain them to protect the people involved. And yet I agree with you! It was the hardest decision I have made and I wish, especially for my daughter's sake, that I had never been in that position. Everyone looses out, especially the child.

You obviously have a valid reason for you desicion, which i agree with. My gripe is with those who prevent the access out of anger and bitterness. In this case there are no winners only losers. A child has a right to both parents in a safe environment but if this is not considered safe then we have to protect them

hilstep2000

My ex and I had such an amicable divorce, he pays me maintenace that we (not the courts) agreed, and sees the kids Weds and weekends. My new partner hasn't seen his daughter for eight years, his wife refuses to let him have any contact at all, no letters or phone calls, and it is awful to see how much it affects him. We were away a few weeks ago, and there was a Dad with his two daugters in the Hotel, he got so upset we had to leave the restaurant. Why don't these Mothers think about what they are doing? I'd never do that to my ex.
As far as the CSA are concerned, a friend works for them, and says that they don't care about any previous payments, but do get it checked, hey do get it wrong!

Stevenj214

StockportGerbil wrote:

As your assessment is under the new scheme then the CSA will expect you to pay 15% of your take home income minus any additional pension contributions outside a works scheme. This contribution will drop by a seventh for each night per week you have your daughter.

If this is true, and if the previous payments do not get taken into account, isn't it the case that if you put the 15% into a private pension then you would then pay £0p/m?

filigree_2

Stevenj214 wrote:

If this is true, and if the previous payments do not get taken into account, isn't it the case that if you put the 15% into a private pension then you would then pay £0p/m?

No, the CSA look at the net income (wage minus tax minus NI minus pension contributions) and take 15% of what's left.

Loobeylou

Asking on behalf of a friend who had a really nasty split from her partner about three years ago. There are two young children involved, and she does struggle to make ends meet. Eventually, the ex-partner agreed voluntarily to pay £50 maintenance every week, and has been paying this for about two and a half years now.

However, I have heard of this sum of money being paid when there is only one child involved.

Due to all the problems involved with the CSA, my friend is reluctant to go down that route, but does feel that he is well able to pay more. Also at this time of the year there are things like school uniform to pay for plus child minders whilst out at work.

Anyone out there know what the "going rate" is for two children?

Bossyboots

Unless there is an agreement reached, the CSA is her only option to ensure she gets the money she is entitled to.

Is she claiming all the tax credits she is entitled to?

Could she get her ex to give her a one off payment for the school uniform and bits. A lot of men prefer to do this so they know the money is being spent on the children, not on improving their ex's lifestyle.

katiepops_2

My ex-hubby gives me £80 a month for our son, and has been paying this for about the past seven years. Having said that, he takes our boy on holiday (abroad and in the UK) at least once a year, plus he buys him clothes and stuff and takes him out regularly. He also has been doing a 30 mile round trip to pick him up from school usually three days a week (but he won't have to do that anymore as our son starts secondary school in September and he can walk home). My current partner thinks that he should be giving us more money, but I don't agree.

As far as I'm concerned he's more than contributing to his upkeep, so I don't see the need to take more money off him. But that's just me, and my opinion!

Kate

Loobeylou

It is a possibility, but he is more interested in his latest new car than paying cash to his ex for the benefit of his children. He is particularly difficult to have a conversation with and has an explosive disposition. I believe she is claiming tax credits.

helen21_2

If they are his only two children then the CSA will take 20% of his wage!
So unless you think he is earning alot more than £250 a week it is not worth going down the CSA road as a year later and they still havn't even contacted my ex so you could also be going along time with no maintenance at all

helen21