Just Some advise

northwales

Hi

I split up with my partner 12 months ago. I moved in with my parents and started paying her £250 a month because that is what i thought was fair. i have also gone halfs on anything bought for the kids inc school uniforms and stuff like that.

I have the kids at least 3 nights a week. the problem i have is i am about to get a big pay rise (at last something going right for me) so she is going to be asking me for more money. the thing is i have only now worked out that i should have only been paying her £180 per month but after my pay rise it will go to £281. now i dont mind paying that extra £31 but i know when she see's me driving round in a new car she will think she is entilted to loads more.

I pay all my payments to her by Direct debt, if she go's to the CSA am i going to end up with 12 months of back pay?

Any help would be great

Cheers

RAS

When you calculated the amount you owe, did you make the deductions for the nights the children are with you?

Loopy_Girl

In answer to your question, providing there is no CSA case ongoing just now and the £250 was a private arrangement then, should your ex go to the CSA just now, the assessment will be for £281* and you will not be asked to pay the extra £31 from the last 12 months.

* as RAS has said though, make sure you are deducting 3/7ths for your overnight visits from the kids.

AnxiousMum

And......through CSA you will not be expected to go halves on things like kids clothing, school uniform. However, you could still treat the kids to stuff that you wanted to directly - but the child support (along with child tax credits and child benefit that your ex receives) are all meant (combined with fair contribution from the resident parent) to be able to provide for the needs of the children.

13Kent

Be very careful - if she goes to the CSA without your knowledge and a case is opened you will be liable to pay maintenance to her via CSA from that date. If you have a private agreement and she tells the CSA that the money you are giving her is not for the children, or denies that you are paying her anything, in our experience the CSA will take her word for it and you will be liable to pay arrears from when the case was opened - even if you have already paid that money. In our case the PWC denied that my OH had paid anything, and despite us trying to prove otherwise we had to pay thousands of pounds worth of arrears for money that had already been paid to her.

You need to ensure that the money you give her is clearly marked as Child support in some way ( I'm sure others will be along soon to advise you how to do this!) so that there can be no dispute about it. - Or if she does go to the CSA stop paying her directly at that point, and put the money aside so that when the CSA get in touch with you you can pay her the via the CSA - this might included some arrears from when the case was opened, but if you have used the CSA calculator to work out how much you should pay you can put this money aside ready.

Once you have paid the amount the CSA ask then you are fulfilling your obligations, and it would then be up to you if you wanted to contribute any extra for your children, but you shouldn't feel that you have to.

northwales

Cheers for all you help on this feel much better now.

Hi RAS yes i used the csa calculator and used the band 156-174. The only thing is i think if she thinks she can get a good bit more money out of me coz of the payrise she will drop my days to 2 a week witch i dont want

Hi 13Kent all my payments to her are done by standing order and marked as child maintenance so that should cover me really shouldnt it??

Thanks again for all you help

AnxiousMum

Next to 'child maintenance' marked on your payments, also make note of the children's names!

Mojisola

northwales wrote: »

The only thing is i think if she thinks she can get a good bit more money out of me coz of the payrise she will drop my days to 2 a week witch i dont want

If she tries this, you may have to go down the legal route. As you have an established pattern of contact, it's unlikely that would be changed. If she's seen as wanting to change it to increase the money you pay her, she won't look good in court.