Lump sum maintenance up front

Gintotmelinda

hi all

I know that maintenance payments are not taken into account when calculating entitlement to income support and other benefits. British mother and child have returned to live in the UK due to marital breakdown. But if a lump sum is offered by NRP up front instead of regular payments would it be counted as savings and benefits stopped or reduced? NRP is an Asian national btw.

Comments from anyone with any info/ previous experience would be most helpful.

Thanks

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow

It would be counted as savings. Which it is, really.

missbiggles1

Is that child maintenance?

Gintotmelinda

Yes it is but could be paid up front as ex doesn't want any more contact.

13Kent

In my experience I would say don't, unless it is well documented and witnessed by someone that that payment is for x child from x date until x date, because it is so easy for the PWC to tell the CSA that they are not receiving any maintenance. My hubby was paying his ex monthly in cash and she told the CSA that she had not been recieving any maintenance from him, and the CSA believed her and he ended up with arrears of £14,000 for money he had already paid as the CSA believed her and not him, so I would be very wary about paying any amounts directly to the PWC that are not clearly documented, as they could be construed as a gift or a voluntary payment rather than child maintenance.

Gintotmelinda

Thanks all for the replies.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow

"Yes it is but could be paid up front as ex doesn't want any more contact"


The child maintenance could be paid up front yes, but then you wouldn't be eligible for benefits because you would have a large sum of money.


Incidently, it makes no difference whether or not the absent parent see's the child, maintenance is still payable so it makes no sense to pay it in advance.