Child Maintenance (CSA) questions (merged)

Shaun_d123

Ok this may be a little long winded but wanted to give the full story

I had a child with my then partner in 1994.

We then split up but I have no problems in paying maintenance.

This is done via an amicable agreement between exs partner and myself but the original amount was determined by the CSA.

The payment itself is made every 4 weeks via a cheque direct to my ex partner.

I have never gone back through the CSA to re determine payments but have never received any complaints from my ex-partner.

I believe I am paying a reasonable if not over the odds amount for maintenance.

Two questions arise from all of the above.

1. How long am I legally bound to pay maintenance for my child through my ex-partner (is it until child is 16yrs old)

2. Would it be advisable to have my maintenance payments re assessed or shall I just leave as is (Im 99% sure I know the answer to this one already ! )

Many Thanks in advance for any comments

Gareth1_2

If in full time education i believe it is 19, also if you are on the old system you will eventually go on to the new system which is 15% of wage for one child, but i believe it will be a while off yet mate

worth a read though - http://www.csa.gov.uk/

doelani

You need to keep paying as long as your ex is getting child benefit for your child.

As far as getting the CSA to reassess your case I would not. If you are both happy with what you are paying don't rock the boat.

I have been getting CSA for 8 years and have only got a reassessment when each child left school, this was done or the original figures my ex gave CSA and they tried to get me to go for full reassessment but I refused as I am happy with what I am getting. Interesting enough though I get the same for 1child as I used to get for 3 because my ex was paying reduced emount for 3 due to gaurenteed income.

My daughter is due to leave school now but hopefully will be returning for A levels next years and I called CSA a few days ago and they confirmed that as long as I get child benefit CSA continues, won't ex get a surprise if he is expecting it to stop npow daughter is 16 lol He has not seen kids since we split 8 years ago and CSA is paid by deduction of earnings so he does not know that daughter is planning to go back to school. Lets just hope he was not planning anything for the £60 per week he gives me.......:D

moggins

£60 a week! wow! Perhaps I should take my ex to the CSA. Lol, only joking I am more than happy with the £45 he pays me voluntarily. Plus he always buys shoes, sports kit and pays out half for any school trips or camps.

doelani

moggins wrote:

£60 a week!

Ex has never even as much as bought a birthday card for kids since we split, when we split 8 years ago he was bringing home about £400-£450 per week, he was a manager in his job. Imagine what he earns now. On the CSA forms his employer filled in his earnings he onlearnedy £280 per week so he did alright. I never pushed it as I thought £60 was fair. Although he is supposed to pay £60 per week at one point his arrears were almost £1.5k. Sometimes it can be 6-8 weeks between payments and it has never been up to date. I got awarded £60 per week for 3 kids and it never changed. I think he got off light, I should have taken him to the cleaners

My now hubby pays his ex £70 pw (voluntarily) and they have joint custody of 3 teenagers. He also helps with their school uniforms , £200 each at xmas, birthday presents , help with school trips and a holiday every second year. The years we do not take them on holiday he helps pay for them to go with their mum.

To be honest I would give up the money tomorrow if he would agree to see hte kids but thats another story

moggins

doelani, do you want to hire a hitman

I do appreciate I am very lucky with my ex, he never misses a weekend, is always generous with his money and even paid half for my daughters 18th birthday party when she isn't his child and that was after we had divorced!

Trouble is he always thinks money will solve everything which is why we are divorced

doelani

moggins wrote:

doelani, do you want to hire a hitman

(

No not until daughter leaves school anyway still have another £7k to get out of him before that plus arrears, I jsut wish I could be there when he phones CSA to see why money not stopped now daughter is 16 and they tell him she is going back to school.

Hit him where it hurts

Mr_Mister

My friend who is currently going through a divorce does not know much about child maintence and needs any advice
He is currently living at his parents house and received a call recently from someone at the Job Centre demanding that he pays £40 a week to his wife and 2 small kids.
He basically dont know where he stands. The wife doesnt work and still living at the matrimonial home with the kids and shes applied for benefits. He is paying the mortgage until the divorce , when the house will be sold.
Hes willing to pay maintence but who is this person from the job centre as its not the CSA? If he does pay, how can he keep a record of payments made to his wife?

hobo28

job centre!?!? Sounds a bit suspcious to me.

As a guideline, under the new CSA rules, he should pay 20% of his net salary minus any nights he has them. Ie. if he has them one night a week, thats 1/7the off the payment.

If wife is claiming benefits then CSA must get involved so if I were in his shoes, I'd wait for them to get in touch and take it from there. In the meantime, if he makes any payments make sure there's a record. Ie. pay by cheque or bank transfer. Never ever give cash in hand.

Prudent

It may simply be because the dept. of work and pensions is doing some of csa's work just now.