can csa reduce payments to cover travel expenses

callie72

does anyone know if the csa can reduce payments to the resident parent because the non resident parent travels 18 miles to collect his daughter for weekend visits??

Nicifer_noonoo

I don't know the answer, but why should the child lose out on maintenence money for THE CHILD because of where the NR Parent lives? If only resident parents got tax breaks for travelling costs to and from school, nursery etc...

missmontana

If you are a non-resident parent, we might look at the amount of child maintenance again if you have special expenses of more than £10 a week, or £15 if your income is £200 or more, for:

keeping in contact with your children (for example, if the parent with care has moved a long way away).




18 miles isn't really a long way! But i guess with the prices of petrol going up, the NRP might raise the issue.

Loopy_Girl

The NRP could apply for a variation on the grounds of travel expenses but I wouldn't think that an 18 mile trip would be deemed as excessive enough to warrant it.

If successful though then the maintenance assessment would be reduced.

Loopy_Girl

Nicifer_noonoo wrote: »

I don't know the answer, but why should the child lose out on maintenence money for THE CHILD because of where the NR Parent lives? If only resident parents got tax breaks for travelling costs to and from school, nursery etc...

Maybe it was the PWC choice to move away and if so, the surely they would need to share some of the financial brunt if the NRP was visiting?

hfr

As said above a variation can be looked but my opinion is that morally the NRP wanting to reduce maintenance payments that ensure your child can eat is morally wrong.

kelloggs36

the first £15 per week is disregarded anyway, so for 18 miles there wouldn't be any award.

Loopy_Girl

hfr wrote: »

As said above a variation can be looked but my opinion is that morally the NRP wanting to reduce maintenance payments that ensure your child can eat is morally wrong.

Oh c'mon!! A bit melodramatic there are we not?!! Even on the breadline i.e benefits, no child would go hungry as benefits are more than adequate.

And what if the NRP asked the PWC not to move away as they would struggle with costs (could be on a low income for all we know) but they refused and moved anyway?

Any decent PWC would take a reduction in their CM if it meant regular contact. Any PWC that thinks it's wrong that the NRP gets a small (and it is small) travel allowance to see their child needs their head examined and their priorities smacked into shape

hfr

no child would go hungry as benefits are more than adequate.

Spoken like a person who has never tried to pay bills, rent and still feed the family!

Loopy_Girl

hfr wrote: »

Spoken like a person who has never tried to pay bills, rent and still feed the family!

Hmmm...I've been a lone parent for 8 years. 4 of those were on IS when my small person was a baby and for the last 4 years I have had anything between 3 and 4 jobs and get WTC/CTC. No rent paid as I have a mortgage.

Oh yeah and I don't get any child support.

No apology needed

hfr

well lucky you to have you have had IS support and being well enough to get jobs

If you produce the sperm or the eggs, pay for the produce!