Child Maintenance (CSA) questions (merged)

helen21_2

Sam_Spends_Too_Much wrote:

She also has her working tax credit that is related to his wage. I'm guessing that stops now she isn't with him.

So would I be right in saying that basically each week she will get family allowance, income support and £10 of the maintenance.

Thanks again.

If she is a new claimant she will claim IS for herself, CTC for her children, yes she will be able to keep £10 per week of any maintenance, and also if she has a little job she will be able to keep £20 per week of this too

Sam_Spends_Too_Much

Does she have to claim income support or could she just use the money he gives her each week?? Does she benefit better by going on IS or sticking with maintenance and fam all??

Sorry for all the ??s, glad there's someone out there that knows what they're doing

Scarlett1

helen21 wrote:

If she is on IS she cannot make an agreement it has to go to the csa

yes thats right, wasnt sure though if she is on IS yet or not although I wasnt contacted to give my ex's details when I went on CSA cause I slipped through the net it was only when I applied for maintenance through the csa that income support contacted me and sent someone round

helen21_2

Im not sure how much IS will pay for her, but if it below the amount he pays then no she will not get IS, i was talking about this in this thread, please have a quick read
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=159910

shellsuit

I must be a right sucker.

My ex gives me £20 a week for our 2 children.

He had an accident in Octpber last year and only went back to work last week and while he was off he gave me nothing.

He has the kids one night a week and buys their school shoes/coats, also takes them away every year for a week, but he has only ever given me £20 a week since we split up and I went back to work. (Been back working for nearly 2 years now)

No point in me going to the CSA because he would have backpayment to pay plus what he should give anyway and I know for a fact he would stop working and then I would get naff all.

£10 a week for each child, what a joke hey!

What really annoys me about this is that my fantastic fiance doesn't bat an eyelid when the kids need something and they are not even his kids!

Becles

There's a calculator here which will give you an idea of what he should be paying if you know his wages:
https://secureonline.dwp.gov.uk/csa/v1/new/calc.asp

My ex gets a variable wage due to shifts and regular overtime. When he gets his P60, he puts the annual salary in the calculator. He divides the amount due by 12, and pays me that figure on the 1st day of every month. Just thought I'd mention it as it works for us.

thehairybuilder

SAMSPENDSTOOMUCH ,

My mate has split form his wife and from my understanding the MAXIMUM that the CSA will take is 15% of his wages . He has 2 kids and keeps them 6 days out of 14 . If your ex earns £24k then this (15%) equates to £210 per month so if he is offering £70 per week grab it with both hands and get something in writing from a solicitor .
Forget about the CSA as it can get messy and he`ll `disappear` and not pay a penny - I`ve seen guys even give up work or go to college for years so they do not have to pay maintenance . . . . and how does that benefit the kids?
Also worth bearing in mind that most Dads who split actually split completely and have no contact with the kids nor pay any maintenance so I`d encourage your ex to keep in touch with your kids as much as possible and , as I say , take his £70 weekly
Good luck whatever happens

helen21_2

thehairybuilder wrote:

SAMSPENDSTOOMUCH ,

My mate has split form his wife and from my understanding the MAXIMUM that the CSA will take is 15% of his wages . He has 2 kids and keeps them 6 days out of 14 . If your ex earns £24k then this (15%) equates to £210 per month so if he is offering £70 per week grab it with both hands and get something in writing from a solicitor .
Forget about the CSA as it can get messy and he`ll `disappear` and not pay a penny - I`ve seen guys even give up work or go to college for years so they do not have to pay maintenance . . . . and how does that benefit the kids?
Also worth bearing in mind that most Dads who split actually split completely and have no contact with the kids nor pay any maintenance so I`d encourage your ex to keep in touch with your kids as much as possible and , as I say , take his £70 weekly
Good luck whatever happens

The most the csa can take is 30% and that is it. 15% for one child 20% for two 25% for three and 30% for four or more children. If she is on IS then she will have to inform the CSA. If he lives elsewhere and is providing for other children then they take this same percentage off his wage before the percentage of his wage is taken

Kimberley

What would you consider to be a fair maintenance assessment for two children? My friend has two boys, her ex pays her £25 a week for them both. He gets an average wage. I told her that amount is just about £14 a week each boy :eek: Thats not enough to buy a pair of trousers each She doesn't like to ask him for more because he got the hump when she raised the maintenance from £20 a week to £25 :rolleyes:

Can you help her to ask him in a way where he wouldn't begrudge giving it?

I told her to just ask for more, i said to tell him what she has to pay out each month for them including their football and after school activities, but she's not sure if she is being fair on the amount she's asking for. She would like about £40 a week for them both, she ain't greedy, just struggling on her income alone as she gets no benefits.

Her boys are 10 and 14 :beer:

Rachie_B

does he have other kids by a new relationship?

that would alter the figure

but £25 p/w for TWO kids is nothing as you say ,esp when she has to shell out for other clubs etc aswell!

my ex pays £30 p/w for my eldest son but when i was single mum (when we first split up) on benefits he had to pay £70 p/w !!! (through CSA)

he has 2 other children now my his current partner

hes pretty good though and will contribute towards school uniforms etc