Part time Dad expenses on a DRO

rich4rd83

Hi guys, I am wondering if anyone can help! I am thinking about a DRO and want to know if expenses I incure as a father will be allowable. 

My Son in 6, Autistic and nonverbal. I see him twice a week. He has to have McDonalds nuggets on a Monday and chip shop sausages and chips on a Tuesday. Its his routine and it's best to keep a routine. His diet is aweful, but he will eat this.

I am also the one who takes him for haircuts. He literally won't allow anyone else to take him. I also buy him clothes every now and again.

Due to me taking debts out of my marriage, I don't pay child maintenance as I have expenses that I've mentioned and in condiserable debt!

Does anyone know if these types of expenses as a parent are OK?

I also take him swimming, because it's literally the only activity he will do. Would swimming membership be allowed?

Any help gratefully appreciated 

Brie

Of course money you pay for your children is acceptable.  

If you look at the statement of account (SOA) on the Debtfree Wannabee board you'll see all the information that is required for a budget that can be used as the basis for a DRO.  Food is food.  If you are buying it for you or your son it's still food and an allowable expense.  His haircuts can be included where you might include your own.  Swimming is a leisure activity obviously but again you just include his with yours.  

Think about it and consider what is reasonable.  Yes clothing and feeding your son is reasonable.  If you were taking him heli-skiing that might not be. 

And don't forget that the DRO includes the fact that you can have £75 excess every month.  Even at McD prices that's a lot of nuggets!!

If you want to read some independent info on DROs DebtCamel is one of the best websites in the UK.

What is a DRO (Debt Relief Order) ?

rich4rd83

Brie said:

Of course money you pay for your children is acceptable.  

If you look at the statement of account (SOA) on the Debtfree Wannabee board you'll see all the information that is required for a budget that can be used as the basis for a DRO.  Food is food.  If you are buying it for you or your son it's still food and an allowable expense.  His haircuts can be included where you might include your own.  Swimming is a leisure activity obviously but again you just include his with yours.  

Think about it and consider what is reasonable.  Yes clothing and feeding your son is reasonable.  If you were taking him heli-skiing that might not be. 

And don't forget that the DRO includes the fact that you can have £75 excess every month.  Even at McD prices that's a lot of nuggets!!

If you want to read some independent info on DROs DebtCamel is one of the best websites in the UK.

What is a DRO (Debt Relief Order) ?

Thankyou. I looked as much as possible online, but couldn't see an answer. Much appreciated 👍 

ManyWays

Are you getting DLA for him; weird diets, difficult about haircuts and swimming membership are exactly the sort of expenses DLA is meant to cover? If you are, then the DLA is listed as an income in your DRO and child disability expenses for the same amount are listed as an expense.

If your ex is getting the DLA, then the simple thing is to check if you will actually sail through the under-75-a-month disposable income check. Many people underestimate how much they can put in for food, clothes, haircuts, leisure.  If you post a Statement of Affairs https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php here we can suggest if it looks reasonable. 

Will you start paying child maintenance in a DRO as you no longer have the debts? If you will, then you can start making those payments now and stop paying the debts (all of them, so you treat them all the same) as reasonable levels of child maintenance are an acceptable expense in DRO.

rich4rd83

ManyWays said:

Are you getting DLA for him; weird diets, difficult about haircuts and swimming membership are exactly the sort of expenses DLA is meant to cover? If you are, then the DLA is listed as an income in your DRO and child disability expenses for the same amount are listed as an expense.

If your ex is getting the DLA, then the simple thing is to check if you will actually sail through the under-75-a-month disposable income check. Many people underestimate how much they can put in for food, clothes, haircuts, leisure.  If you post a Statement of Affairs https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php here we can suggest if it looks reasonable. 

Will you start paying child maintenance in a DRO as you no longer have the debts? If you will, then you can start making those payments now and stop paying the debts (all of them, so you treat them all the same) as reasonable levels of child maintenance are an acceptable expense in DRO.

My ex gets DLA for him. She doesn't want me to give her cash for maintenance or even send to her account. Says she doesn't want hassle of declaring money as if I stop paying it will mess up her income. I said I won't stop, but she is adamant that I need to just keep things as they are. TBH even if I did pay her maintenance I would still have these extra expenses. I told her maintenance is not means tested, but she's having none of it.

I just predict that DRO assessor will say son doesn't live with me and I have to cover my expenses only.

rich4rd83

ManyWays said:

Are you getting DLA for him; weird diets, difficult about haircuts and swimming membership are exactly the sort of expenses DLA is meant to cover? If you are, then the DLA is listed as an income in your DRO and child disability expenses for the same amount are listed as an expense.

If your ex is getting the DLA, then the simple thing is to check if you will actually sail through the under-75-a-month disposable income check. Many people underestimate how much they can put in for food, clothes, haircuts, leisure.  If you post a Statement of Affairs https://www.stoozing.com/soa.php here we can suggest if it looks reasonable. 

Will you start paying child maintenance in a DRO as you no longer have the debts? If you will, then you can start making those payments now and stop paying the debts (all of them, so you treat them all the same) as reasonable levels of child maintenance are an acceptable expense in DRO.

My ex gets DLA for him. She doesn't want me to give her cash for maintenance or even send to her account. Says she doesn't want hassle of declaring money as if I stop paying it will mess up her income. I said I won't stop, but she is adamant that I need to just keep things as they are. TBH even if I did pay her maintenance I would still have these extra expenses. I told her maintenance is not means tested, but she's having none of it.

I just predict that DRO assessor will say son doesn't live with me and I have to cover my expenses only.

RAS

Your ex needs to get her facts sorted out. Receipt of child maintenance does NOT affect her entitlement to benefits. It might affect her if she was doing a DRO, but not benefits.

It's not taxable either. So much better to do you SOA as is and then with child maintenance.

rich4rd83

RAS said:

Your ex needs to get her facts sorted out. Receipt of child maintenance does NOT affect her entitlement to benefits. It might affect her if she was doing a DRO, but not benefits.

It's not taxable either. So much better to do you SOA as is and then with child maintenance.

Logic doesn't come into it with my ex unfortunately. I appreciate your reply.