Can the CSA touch my Husbands wage ??

Babiesmummy_2

I have been married since 2002, I have 3 daughters with the eldest being from a previous relationship who has lived with me since birth. Her father has never paid a penny for her up keep,I did go through the CSA years ago as his earnings weren't sufficient I got bu**er all. He has seen her on and off for the past 14 years when it suits him.

We are now re-locating 50miles away and I have given my daughter the choice of coming with us and moving schools (which I did at the same age and wished I hadn't) or staying at her current school and living with her Grandma Mon-Fri and with us Sat/Sun. To which she has agreed.

She is currently a very unhappy teenager due to one thing and another and has now started seeing her Dad on a regular basis and he offered to have her Mon-Fri when we move which she has jumped at the chance of doing. Firstly it isnt convenient due to where he lives the traffic is horrendous and it would take forever every morning to get to school and secondly I feel that he would only offer to have her if it would benefit him financially.

He is a single parent of 2 girls working as a taxi driver 3 days on and 3 days off (he does get help from family looking after the girls). When we re-locate I will be giving up work and will be supported by my husbands wage.

I am worried that she has said she will be staying at her Grandma's and then down the line decides she wants to live with her dad and then he goes to the CSA and takes us to the cleaners, which we won't be able to afford. I have no issue with giving him money for her up keep but would prefer it to be an agreement between us than through the CSA.

Any clarification and thought on this would be appreciated.

TIA

kelloggs36

The CSA can only use your income to calculate what is due - although they will use all child tax credits as your income even if you have no job. If you don't get much in child tax credits then you won't have to pay any more than a fiver per week. Your mum could also claim from both or either of you btw.

Babiesmummy_2

Thanks, that takes a bit of weight off.

LizzieS_2

Another point to note. Whether your daughter lives with her father or grandparents for 5 days a week, you will no longer be classed as her main carer. Only the main carer is allowed to claim child benefit and child tax credits for your daughter.

Babiesmummy_2

LizzieS wrote: »

Another point to note. Whether your daughter lives with her father or grandparents for 5 days a week, you will no longer be classed as her main carer. Only the main carer is allowed to claim child benefit and child tax credits for your daughter.

Thats not an issue, I can live with losing the child benefit, I don't get any form of tax credit. My mum has been made redundant so I guess she may get something from tax credits ?

karenx

Yes she can claim the child benefit then in turn claim the child tax credits.
If you are still claiming these then tell them asap that you arent the main carer anymore so they can stop the payments

PlayingHardball

Hiya,
As a Mum of a 15 year old daughter who has gone through a very difficult time lately, I can totally understand your situation. Don't take this wrong, but could your decision to relocate so far away wait a little while until she isn't finding things hard? Just a thought.

Good luck, its a very difficult decision I am sure.

Babiesmummy_2

PlayingHardball wrote: »

Hiya,
As a Mum of a 15 year old daughter who has gone through a very difficult time lately, I can totally understand your situation. Don't take this wrong, but could your decision to relocate so far away wait a little while until she isn't finding things hard? Just a thought.

Good luck, its a very difficult decision I am sure.

My husband has been doing the long commute for 4 years and this is the first time we can financially afford to re-locate. We also have a 4 year old starting school in September and a 2 year old starting nursery, we have out grown our house and also need more space.

It has been a hard decision to make, but we feel the right one, luckily it is only a 100 miles round trip which we or she will make most weekends,