Advice please, Ex not playing fair

Icemaiden

My ex hubbie gives me £170 per calandar month for our two children aged 18 (still in full time Ed) & age 8 (has sen statement).I work part time over 16hrs around the youngest & claim HB,CB,CTC & WCT. Due to the nature of his work from Sept every year till end Jan every year his income increases dramatically, almost doubles, this is due to him working away and doing alot of hours. I was hoping that he would at least contribute a bit extra during this period as he doesn't chip in for anything else, but has informed me this morning that will not be the case as this work is paid as a Bonus and isn't guaranteed, even though his work involves this every year, I still have old payslips to prove the amounts he has previously received during this period for the last 5 yrs.
As this is all very new to me I don't know how to approach this, should he be contributing extra during this 5 month period and then revert back to the original amount after Jan or doesn't it have to be taken into consideration at all like he says because its a bonus?

Thank you

Ice

DUTR

Some people get nothing at all, I suppose you could get the csa to act on your behalf.

Kimberley

Hold on a minute be thankful you get something. You are getting WTC and CTC and HB and CB and Maintenance on top. Be thankful you are getting £170. A lot of working parents are still waiting for their ex partners to pay child support. I think you are being greedy now. Just remember when the Tories get in next year they will ensure CM is classed as income unlike it is now.

kelloggs36

You can always go to the CSA - they include the annual bonus as income and spread it over the year to work out his weekly payments?

Icemaiden

As I have been in that situation I can appreciate alot of working parents don't receive anything from their Ex partners, I was not with this man for 22 years for him to shrug off his responsibilities with regards to the children, one of which needs extra care due to her difficulities. Just like many Independent mums I also work my butt off in a dead end job just to help provide a decent standard of living for our children and maybe just maybe thought my Ex should help out during his more affluent times.

Ice

Icemaiden

Thank you kelloggs36

Ice

DUTR

Icemaiden wrote: »

As I have been in that situation I can appreciate alot of working parents don't receive anything from their Ex partners, I was not with this man for 22 years for him to shrug off his responsibilities with regards to the children, one of which needs extra care due to her difficulities. Just like many Independent mums I also work my butt off in a dead end job just to help provide a decent standard of living for our children and maybe just maybe thought my Ex should help out during his more affluent times.

Ice

I don't think anyone disagrees with your intent or purpose on the matter, the system is set up in favour of you to win the matter over CS.

Icemaiden

I didn't really want to get the csa involved as were supposed to be grown-ups :rolleyes:and be able to discuss this type of thing between us but now I know the csa do include Bonus as income I will approach him again.

Thank you

Kimberley

Icemaiden wrote: »

As I have been in that situation I can appreciate alot of working parents don't receive anything from their Ex partners, I was not with this man for 22 years for him to shrug off his responsibilities with regards to the children, one of which needs extra care due to her difficulities. Just like many Independent mums I also work my butt off in a dead end job just to help provide a decent standard of living for our children and maybe just maybe thought my Ex should help out during his more affluent times.

Ice

I know. I am also in receipt of CM, WTC, CTC, HB and CB. I also work part time 16 plus hours a week. I'm grateful that my ex pays £200 a month CM which I get on top of all the benefits I do. I wouldn't want more if he earned much more then he does because i'm grateful for this extra £200 a month.

Once the Tories are in power we will lose much of this CM because CB, WTC and CTC and CT will be assessed on how much CM we get so please make the most of what you are getting now because you won't have it for long.

speedster

Icemaiden wrote: »

My ex hubbie gives me £170 per calandar month for our two children aged 18 (still in full time Ed) & age 8 (has sen statement).I work part time over 16hrs around the youngest & claim HB,CB,CTC & WCT. Due to the nature of his work from Sept every year till end Jan every year his income increases dramatically, almost doubles, this is due to him working away and doing alot of hours. I was hoping that he would at least contribute a bit extra during this period as he doesn't chip in for anything else, but has informed me this morning that will not be the case as this work is paid as a Bonus and isn't guaranteed, even though his work involves this every year, I still have old payslips to prove the amounts he has previously received during this period for the last 5 yrs.
As this is all very new to me I don't know how to approach this, should he be contributing extra during this 5 month period and then revert back to the original amount after Jan or doesn't it have to be taken into consideration at all like he says because its a bonus?

Thank you

Ice

do the children suddenly become more expensive during that 5 month period then?

sorry, but it just comes across as greed. nearly £200 a month on top of all the other benefits and you still want more??

go to the csa, by all means, but don't be surprised if you end up with less than you're getting now.

also, the other side of the csa coin, is the strain it it puts on already frail relationships.

personally i would try to come to some kind of arrangement with him before setting the dogs on him. you could be opening up a whole load of aggro.

Prudent

speedster wrote: »

do the children suddenly become more expensive during that 5 month period then?
QUOTE]

If the relationship had continued the children would probably have benefitted in some way from these bonuses. Why should they loose out because their parent's relationship has broken down.

OP I had my ex's income assessed by the csa to include bonuses as they make up a substanial part of his income.

I didn't know the conservatives were planning to count csa payments as income. Does anyone have any more details? Before a NRP jumps on me, I do not claim any means tested benefits as I work full time in a well paid job.