Child Maintenence

mermaid85

My daughter's father and I have been split for about 4 years, and have had a private agreement for child maintenence, which has been at the same amount the whole time. As the amount hasn't changed in 4 years, should this be due for review?

He also has now got a new girlfriend, who has 2 children of her own. I have heard rumour that they may be moving in together but haven't had it confirmed from him as yet, and wondered if this will affect his payments in any way? My new partner is to be moving in with me in January, I don't know if this will affect father's payments either?

pinkpig08

If you were going through the CSA, then if they moved in together the fact she has 2 children would reduce his payment to you. The fact that your partner was moving in would make no difference.

TotallyBroke

Have a look at the CSA website. Put in the details as if he was living with her.
If you are getting less then ask him to increase, if you are getting more or the same then be grateful you are getting anything.
When asking for an increase then give solid points for raising the issue, so "trainers are so much more expensive once child gets into adult size" "High school uniform dearer than old school". Don't just do the "I want more money because it has not gone up in 4 years"

Good luck it's good to see a private arrangement that is actually being paid

mermaid85

the problem with using csa website is that I don't know how much he earns!! so not really able to work out how much he should be paying. not too sure how to broach the subject either as we only speak for her sake

Donedoingdebt

As you have a private arrangement, then it is totally up to you & your daughter's Father (The NRP) as to whether the arrangement changes or not.

IF you chose the CSA route, he would have to pay 15% of his net pay, minus allowances for any step children or his own children that may be living with him, plus an allowance for any overnight stays per week that your Daughter stays with him.

Your new partner moving in with you should not affect his maintenance payments.

For example:

His net monthly pay...............................................................£1000

25% allowance for his 2 step children - £250 - ...............................£750

Assessment amount 15% of £750..........................Amount payable......£112.50

Assuming your Daughter stays over one night per week (52 nights per year) he will receive
a further one seventh allowance (£16.07) off this figure. This will increase to two sevenths (£32.14) for 104 nights per year up to a maximum of three sevenths (£48.21) for 156 overnight stays per year.

It may be best if perhaps you can continue with your private agreement based on these CSA figures.

mitchaa

mermaid85 wrote: »

My daughter's father and I have been split for about 4 years, and have had a private agreement for child maintenence, which has been at the same amount the whole time. As the amount hasn't changed in 4 years, should this be due for review?

He also has now got a new girlfriend, who has 2 children of her own. I have heard rumour that they may be moving in together but haven't had it confirmed from him as yet, and wondered if this will affect his payments in any way? My new partner is to be moving in with me in January, I don't know if this will affect father's payments either?

There are millions who have had paycuts in the 12-24mths so he may be on less that what he was 4yrs ago.

Additionally he has 2 other children to look after so this should be taken into consideration (It would with CSA aswell)

mermaid85

mitchaa wrote: »

Additionally he has 2 other children to look after so this should be taken into consideration (It would with CSA aswell)

This is the bit I don't really get... if my bf moves in with me, it doesn't affect the payments, but if he moves in with other children it does? So surely his new gf will still be getting the same maintence payments as previously, and if I were to still be single, it would be them that benefit from the situation while we had less money? Surely his first priority should be his own child, not others that he loves with?

shell_542

Basically the CSA system isn't fair to all concerned. NRP's and PWC.

But if your partner is contributing to the upkeep of his ex's new children, then he is allowed a small percentage to be taken into account for these children.

All children are the priority. Not just biological children.

And in the majority of cases, the children in the NRP household are unimportant to the CSA.

mermaid85

I'm not saying her children shouldn't be a priority to him... just that his own should be coming before somebody else's. Especially as any holidays and days out that she has been promised these holidays by him haven't ended up including her, which she realises. Although he claims it's not a relationship, just a friendship.

mitchaa

mermaid85 wrote: »

This is the bit I don't really get... if my bf moves in with me, it doesn't affect the payments, but if he moves in with other children it does? So surely his new gf will still be getting the same maintence payments as previously, and if I were to still be single, it would be them that benefit from the situation while we had less money? Surely his first priority should be his own child, not others that he loves with?

Your BF does not pay child maintenance your ex does. If your boyfriend had a child elsewhere and was paying maintenance to his ex then he too would get a discount for caring for your child. Yes if your ex's new GF is getting maintenance from her ex, then of course she would still get the same unless her ex had moved in with someone with children then her payments would go down (like your now will do)

This is exactly the same as what you are asking

His priority is all 3 children, not just yours so of course his cost to you will go down.

Surely you see this is fair?

shell_542

mermaid85 wrote: »

I'm not saying her children shouldn't be a priority to him... just that his own should be coming before somebody else's. Especially as any holidays and days out that she has been promised these holidays by him haven't ended up including her, which she realises. Although he claims it's not a relationship, just a friendship.

The holidays/days out are a different matter. They have nothing to do with child support. If he is stopping her from doing those things then yes, that is unfair.

But if you were to enter into a serious relationship with someone who had children from a previous relationship, would you be happy if your child was second best to their own biological children?