Child tax credits used for CSA payments

shegirl

That may be so with regard to hers not being taken into account,but if it was how much difference do you think it would make?her JSA plus tax credits will be far less than just your child tax credits.it wouldn't make much difference,but I do see your point there.

5 kids in childcare,you can get help with that.Or you could look for work around your partners hours and school hours to minimise costs.

Does your partner work from home?Work with flexibility?

That would also make your partner feel better and give you more money (you still don't say what system you're on either?)

Presumably some of the kids are in school?

sleeping_tiger wrote: »

Not simple 5 child in childcare costs a fortune
I have paid thousands out is c/a payments over the years, and the children never go with out. I have stayed at home to look after all the children (2 are mine) and only for a short space of time, while partners business grows to provide for all our children.

All of our children have everything they need. They have the best of everything and that is all down too me and the 30 years working continuously in a high paid job working all hours and hardly seeing my children to make sure they had all of this. My point was that I have a break to spend time with my children (all of them) and the two that don't live with me are so happy to be able to spend more time with me. So then they take money from the child tax credit that the government says the family should have for the children. My ex pays £5 a week for child living with me her child tax credit aren't taken into account because she on the dole.

jayII

sleeping_tiger wrote: »

Yes is normal, taking a few months break was to spend time with children and let my partners business get up and running to benefit all the children. My ex is supposed to pay £5 a week for our daughter because she has been on benefits since I left. So okay for her to chose not to work but not okay for me to have a few months break to benefit everyone in the long run.

I would never not pay for them. But I don't believe child tax credits should be taken into account.

No, it's not okay for your ex to choose not to work, but at some point her situation will change.

Two wrongs do not make a right and it is you, not your ex, who has started a thread complaining about having to contribute to your children's needs.

I believe tax credits should be taken into account. I also believe that people should not continue to produce children when they cannot pay for the ones they already have. How far do you think £20 a week actually goes for two children?

You could have saved up in advance to fund your time at home, rather than relying on tax credits to subsidise you...

shegirl

sleeping_tiger wrote: »

Yes is normal, taking a few months break was to spend time with children and let my partners business get up and running to benefit all the children. My ex is supposed to pay £5 a week for our daughter because she has been on benefits since I left. So okay for her to chose not to work but not okay for me to have a few months break to benefit everyone in the long run.

I would never not pay for them. But I don't believe child tax credits should be taken into account.

She's been on benefits since 1999?And it's definitely JSA?If so,given the ages the kids will be she'll have to be looking for work now and quite possibly forced onto various programmes.

Nethertheless,it's not about whether she's working or not.She hasn't taken on responsibility for someone elses children and given up work for them expecting to pay nothing for her own kids.that is the major difference.

**Patty**

I find it hard to believe that someone who has apparently spent 30 years working in a high-paid job didn't actually read the rules as to how him giving up work would affect his current CSA payments.

FWIW......I don't think the CSA should take CTC into account. But i don't think the NRP should be entitled to a reduction due to children in his new household either.

Surely a fairer system would be an ideal where the child maintenance is based solely on the salary of the NRP......as it would be should the parents still be together.

sleeping_tiger

25% reduction for 5 children
20% paid out for 2 children

The new system

I have always provided and always will.

I will be back at work paying csa payments which I agree with. But even then they will still take the children money into account that is what I don't agree with.

sleeping_tiger

Also didn't give up work for my partners children, took a break to spend time with all of the children including a new born baby. Not once did I say I didn't want to pay for my other 2 children, I just said I didn't agree with the csa using the children's money (child Tax Credits).

shegirl

sleeping_tiger wrote: »

Also didn't give up work for my partners children, took a break to spend time with all of the children including a new born baby. Not once did I say I didn't want to pay for my other 2 children, I just said I didn't agree with the csa using the children's money (child Tax Credits).

You said you expected either nil assessment or a £5
assessment.If the assessment wasn't in place based on ctc how on earth would you be paying for them while not working?

FBaby

So that's 5 children whose two parents are all on benefits supported solely by the state. Yes you should feel very proud of having given up your job...

sleeping_tiger

We claim no benefits and pay our way for all the children

I would pay the csa bill whatever comes through

But issue was just with them taking childs tax credits into account whether you work or don't. Unless claiming income support or jobseekers.

I think many other families would struggle by this and wanted to post to see if other where going through same thing. But here people judging and jumping to conclusions. Have found other websites that people have same views (why should children's money pay for other children that get same amount per child)

I am not supported by the state and am very pleased to spend time with my family.

kevin137

The way to look at it is not that the childrens money or CTC is taken into account as more that you shouldn't have to support them as they are primarily either not your children, and if they are have 2 parents in the house to support them not just you...

This issue comes up on many occassions, normally when you meet someone else who already have children, and it changes very quickly.

SOme basic sums to explain the situation quickly would be an income after tax of £400 2 children from previous relationship and 2 children of new partner (not yours) .

Prior to new relationship would be £80 per week in CSA

New relationship is £64 a week.

You have a legal responsibility to support your children, you don't however have a legal responsibility to support the new children, yet it is still taken into account. Now if your new partner claims CTC as a couple, then that has to be taken into account, as it is deemed that you have a higher income as a joint claim, if you want to take this out of the equation, it is simple, your new partner makes a single person claim for CTC.

So answer this, what or how much would your new partner receive in CTC as a single person. Is it more or less than the £16 a week difference you get in CTC. If it is more then you are no worse off as it is calibrated to allow for your income and amount of children in your current household regardless of if the children are yours or not. If it is less than the £16 a week, then she should claim as a single person to get more, but you would pay more in CSA.

The mathematics behind it is simple, in such a diverse wold with benefits payable to nearly 50% of the country in some form or another there will always be people upset.

I don't dispute your anger and frustration at seeing the current household children going without, but you still have to accept that if your earnings have not changed neither should your liability regardless of who you live with. That is personal choice. But you still have a financial obligation which you appear to take seriously and that is a good thing for sure.

Just take it with a pinch of salt and try to work out what the financial implications are if you where still single now. More money to pay on bills etc as you would pay them all. In your current situation you should not be paying them all...