Calculation - how it would be worked out

AnxiousMum

Hi all, hoping for some help here.

Three children, two spend 7 nights out of 14 with each parent, the other only 5. This puts them into different brackets in terms of the CSA calculator - but, those extra two nights that the one child is with me, creates expenses that day - school run - £10 return, school dinners £2.50, breakfast club £2.00 - so an extra cost of £14.50 in terms of cash outlay - £29.00 per two weeks Not alot I know, but when money is tight...every little bit helps The child is in his last year at primary school and the commute charge will change in July, but I'm not prepared to change his school this year.

So question being - how would the CSA come to a calculation - as 2 of the kids would be more than 3 or more nights per week, and the other 2-3 per week It obviously creates a discount for the other parent that child is grouped in with the other two - but expenses for me. Any suggestions as to how they would calculate it out?
And before any bleeding hearts come in with negativity - although the kids 'sleep' at the other parent for the nights mentioned, they already eat their meals etc here, as they only get a hot dog etc at the other house, and so they come here for full meals. They also come here and get changed into clean clothes, leaving their dirty clothes here etc., so in reality their dad is getting discounts but not putting out the amount really required to provide for them.

Any help appreciated

Mumstheword

I asked the CSA about a similar situation, but am not really convinced with their answer!

They told me that it's worked out individually per child.

So with yours, 2 should make his discount 2/3 of 7 fourteenths, and the other 1/3 of 5 fourteenths

What a complicated calculation.... let me see if I can get this right!

(2/3 x 7/14) + (1/3 x 5/14)
14/42 + 5/42
19/42

Which is very nearly 1/2, as would be the case if he had all 3 of them 7 nights in 14.

I'm not convinced, however, that the CSA would calculate it like this. Perhaps someone who is actually using the CSA with similar circumstances will be along soon to comment

AnxiousMum

Thanks for giving it a shot! It is confusing....

As he obviously considers his job more important than mine, my responsibilities fall more on work days (hence the costs for school dinners, transportation etc. being greater for me).

At this point though, I'm just happy to have some type of an agreement (admittedly, one main factor in me going to CSA to prod him along as I know he will never willingly pay a penny to me for anything at all), as before it was dependent on the day and what his plans, if any, were.

Hoping somebdy with a similar situation may be able to make comment.

DebsDD

I think they calculate each child separately as my partner's kids used to come to us - one 50% of the time and the other just one weekend a month. They both now live with us full time and their Mum doesn't pay anything!! I don't know how the CSA work it out though but I am sure he paid different amounts for each kid but it was based on the number of nights they slept at our house as you say. (nothing to do with feeding, washing etc)

AnxiousMum

Thanks DebsDD - much appreciated.

Ex had all three last night - one showed up here on his way to school this morning - needing bits of school uniform that dad hasn't purchased as yet, and with no breakfast, no jacket. Ex seems to think no CS is payable if we have them 50/50 or almost 50/50...but the above is a perfect example why it is necessary still - so that someone is responsible for purchasing the one off items that kids need - or clubs etc. that they may wish to participate in. But - day to day things - isn't that what the discount is for? grrrr

Luckily for the child this morning, I was here - tomorrow I'm out of town for the week so hoping that Dad does his part and provides for the child properly!

CSAworkerx

I will just mention that expenses you incur for your children at any point will not be looked at in terms of an assessment, the shared care will be, child maintenance is all ure nrp has to pay and not a penny more, Fair? Not really, but unfortunatly any expense you or he incurs for the children is not looked at on the 2003 scheme.

HoneyNutLoop

If you don't have an existing case, you would be assessed under CSA3 should you apply now. Luckily CSA2 and CSA3 have broadly similar rules for shared care, although other things like income, etc are looked at differently.

The CSA/CMS use a banding system which determines the rate of reduction for each child. For your two that spend 7 out of 14 nights with the NRP that equals 182 nights a year. That would put them into the over 175 nights a year band, so for those children there would be a 50% reduction plus £7 reduction per child.

For your 3rd child who spends 5 nights every 14 nights with the NRP, that totals 130 nights a year. That puts him in the 104-155 band, so a 2/7's reduction for him.

To work an example for CSA3, say your NRP's gross income for tax year 2012/13 was £20,000, and he has no other children living in his household and no other factors to take into account, his weekly income for calculation would be £383.56. As you have 3 children he would normally be asked to pay 19% of this before shared care considerations which equals £72.88.

You would then divide that per child, which equals £24.29 per child. For the two in the over 175 nights a year band, reduce that by 50% less a further £7 so £5.15 each.

For the one in the 104 to 155 band reduce by 2/7's so £17.35.

Add all 3 together equals maintenance of £27.65 a week for all 3 on gross income of £20,000 with the shared care arrangements you describe.

I have used this booklet to work this example through:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/85746/how-we-work-out-child-maintenance.pdf