Maintenance and Child Care Payments

mummy_bear_3 · 7 February 2011 at 4:35PM

I need some advice please.....
I have recently married and my tax credits have now stopped as a lone full time working parent. My husband I keep and run our seperate homes due to work and children commitments.
The father of my two children refuses to contribute to any child care costs or give any of his time up to help with school holidays or after school care. I now have to pay £75 a week term time and on average £286 during summer and Christmas hols. He does pay maintenance through a private agreement that is just over the CSA stated minimum for his income but says that if he contributes to child care he is supporting my lifestyle. We have had a few emails going backwards and forewards but absolutely no further forward and I am very concerned about going into debt.
I can't seem to get him to understand that as we are both working full time child care is not a luxury but essential for us both and not just for me. I feel the only way is now to go formal through the CSA so any advice will be much appreciated. Thanks

mrsspendalot · 7 February 2011 at 4:38PM

I'm confused what you would gain going through the CSA if you already have an agreement privately in which your ex pays above the CSA amount? They would only expect him to pay the amount related to his income, and you get just above that already, so your amount would go down?

DX2 · 7 February 2011 at 4:40PM

mummy_bear wrote: »

I need some advice please.....
I have recently married and my tax credits have now stopped as a lone full time working parent. My husband I keep and run our seperate homes due to work and children commitments.
The father of my two children refuses to contribute to any child care costs or give any of his time up to help with school holidays or after school care. I now have to pay £75 a week term time and on average £286 during summer and Christmas hols. He does pay maintenance through a private agreement that is just over the CSA stated minimum for his income but says that if he contributes to child care he is supporting my lifestyle. We have had a few emails going backwards and forewards but absolutely no further forward and I am very concerned about going into debt.
I can't seem to get him to understand that as we are both working full time child care is not a luxury but essential for us both and not just for me. I feel the only way is now to go formal through the CSA so any advice will be much appreciated. Thanks

Don't waste your time going via the CSA they don't calculate child care costs etc, he already pay just over what the CSA states so you certainly won't get a penny more. legally that's all he has to pay what the CSA state and as he is doing this already you are starting a war that is unnecessary.

mrsspendalot · 7 February 2011 at 4:42PM

In terms of childcare costs, would childcare vouchers be an option? It's a salary sacrifice scheme so you save money on tax etc. Or tax credits might help pay some of the cost?

kelloggs36 · 7 February 2011 at 7:03PM

The law states that he should pay the relevant % of his net income, no more. You need to use what he pays you towards the childcare costs - how would you pay if you were still together and couldn't get any extra income from an ex?

AnxiousMum · 7 February 2011 at 7:15PM

If he's paying over and above the CSA requirement - my hat off to the man! However, he does have a point in relation to the child care - you have gotten remarried, however you CHOOSE to have separate households, and have separate housing costs etc. That is a choice that you have made, and he shouldn't be held liable for it. Neither should the taxpayer be held responsible by providing you with the various benefits that you received as a single parent. You are no longer a single parent and have declared that to ctc, wtc etc. - but that doesn't mean that anybody else is responsible for the extra costs that this incurs for you.