Is this unreasonable re maintenance?

GobbledyGook

Right I'll definately apply for tax credits then. That would be a great help, thank you.

Loopy_Girl

6 bedroomed house to a 2 bedroomed flat? Jeezo....massive changes in your lifestyle afoot isn't there

Anyway, the main thing is your girls and you. Yes, you will be entitled to WTC and CTC and should phone them tomorrow and get the ball rolling

number is 0845 300 3900

Again there is a cap on how much they will pay for nursery fees (I think it's £200...someone correct me if I am wrong) but to work out your weekly nursery fee, add up all the weeks including holidays and then divide by 52 and that is your weekly fee.

Depending on your income you may also be entitled to LHA (old housing benefit) if you are not staying in a privately owned flat. Also make sure you are getting your 25% single person discount from the council.

At the end of the day, the £400 is what you are entitled to (I know there may be extra depending on his wage - am still trying to find the earnings cap) so essentially that is what he should be paying.

You getting tax credits is none of his business (cheeky sod:eek::eek:) and doesn't detract from his CS fulfillment.

Blunty, you could go to the CSA and get them to collect it from you if he refuses to budge.

He's not self employed is he?

jennihen

You sound like you're being very reasonable about all of this - just don't be too nice and get taken for a mug.
You have rights so take legal advice. When you married each other there were certain expectations and it must feel like you've had the rug (and everything else) pulled out from underneath you.
Take your time and good luck.
JH

Loopy_Girl

GobbledyGook wrote: »

He doesn't know. He gave me £500 to sort out the move and "stuff" last month and just wants to know how much I "want", but thinks £400 is way too high.

He is paying the mortgage because he is living in the house. The flat we are in has no mortgage so nothing to pay there.

He is seeing the girls maybe once a week. Hasn't bought them anything, but it's only been a month so they haven't needed anything.

Whether he thinks it is too high is irrelevant. It's what the law says he must pay for his girls (possibly more) and therefore it's (or potentially could be) out of his hands.

Loopy_Girl

Am still searching for the cap but did find an old thread from here about a similar thing....now, ignore ALL the info on it as it's for the old rules which you wouldn't be under but pay particular attention to post 8

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1592161

GobbledyGook

There has been a massive change in lifestyle for the past month Especially finding out that lots of my "friends" have actually turned out to be his friends really (well his friends partners) and I've hardly heard from any of them.

The flat is lovely though, my Grandparents brought me up here so it's comforting in a way. I'm gutted my girls have lost their garden to play in though. Not so bad now, but will be in the summer.

I will get the ball rolling on the tax credits. Once my youngest starts school I'll be able to go full time so it'll be a short term helping hand. Luckily I'll not need LHA as there is no mortgage to pay (it was paid off when my Grandad died years ago) so there's just the yearly factoring fee which isn't much. I've got the discount on the council tax sorted, had to do that when I let them know we were moving in. Also remembered today to change my insurances which is a bit of money back as I don't need landlords insurance anymore.

He's not self employed, does that make a difference?

Kimitatsu

Loopy_Girl wrote: »

6 bedroomed house to a 2 bedroomed flat? Jeezo....massive changes in your lifestyle afoot isn't there

Anyway, the main thing is your girls and you. Yes, you will be entitled to WTC and CTC and should phone them tomorrow and get the ball rolling

number is 0845 300 3900

Again there is a cap on how much they will pay for nursery fees (I think it's £200...someone correct me if I am wrong) but to work out your weekly nursery fee, add up all the weeks including holidays and then divide by 52 and that is your weekly fee.

Depending on your income you may also be entitled to LHA (old housing benefit) if you are not staying in a privately owned flat. Also make sure you are getting your 25% single person discount from the council.

House is owned outright by the OP Loopy so she wont get LHA, but the council tax reduction will apply

At the end of the day, the £400 is what you are entitled to (I know there may be extra depending on his wage - am still trying to find the earnings cap) so essentially that is what he should be paying.

You getting tax credits is none of his business (cheeky sod:eek::eek:) and doesn't detract from his CS fulfillment.

Blunty, you could go to the CSA and get them to collect it from you if he refuses to budge.

He's not self employed is he?

Loopy is quite right your finances are none of his business, and he has no right to try to get you to move the girls.

Bear in mind as well that you can take into account his pension as well as the value of the house, as well as any investments that were gained during the marriage. So as has been said dont get taken for a mug, be civil and polite but dont let him walk all over you.

jennihen

Lets just say, you'd wonder why anyone would be self-employed because when it comes to paying child support some NRP's don't seem to earn enough to break even!!!

Loopy_Girl

Yes but in a good way:D The S/E have a habit of wriggling their correct responsibilities;)

It's small steps....s'long as you and the girls are happy and settled then that's the main. Take each day as it comes but by the sounds of it you may need to toughen up and be prepared to put your case forward. If he asks about tax credits then politely tell him that's not his concern.

Ultimately if he doesn't play ball then you can go to the CSA and it could be pointed out that they will be looking at his taxable income very closely so that perhaps, just perhaps, the £400 wouldn't be a bad offer;)

p.s if any posts on here accuse you of being money grabbing or the such, please ignore. You are only asking for what you are entitled - in actual fact you are probably asking for less. You may also get questioned why you need £400 for 2 children - again, please ignore. The CSA rules are there are we are not here to question them. Your hubby is a high earner so therefore pays a higher proportion that most for CS.

PlayingHardball

Gobsmacked (as always with these humans that breed children and don't want to put there money where their ........is) He takes home 2k per week, and would begrudge his kids 400 quid of it!

Sorry, that was a little rant probably aimed at my ex who is similar to the OP and was/is a high earner.

To the OP.....your ex may have been the most reasonable, generous man you thought you would ever meet, divorce changes that in many men!! (such as my ex, and most likely your ex-high earners seem to change the most, in my experience!). I wouln't trust him as far as you can throw him. If he is being greedy and unreasonable, I would definately advise you to go CSA.

This is exactly why the CSA exists. Despite all of the negative NRP on this forum who feel hard done by with their unfair arrears and 'unfair' assessments, ...all given at the hands of the CSA, sometimes it is the PWC's only hope of 'fair' treatment and support for the children.

Good luck OP