Hi Everyone,
New member here desperately looking for advice. My son over the last few months has began to stay with his mum each night which i have no problem with as it makes sense. Me and my son have a fantastic relationship and talk everyday both in person and on the phone. I pick him up from school twice a week and return him to his mums on the nights (Monday and Wednesday) then Saturday I pick him up around lunch and return him home later on the night. The CSA are now saying due to him not staying over my payments are massively increasing. He’s still here like he always has been, he’s just not using his bed. The problem being I literally cannot afford what they are saying as it was hard enough before hand. This is getting me extremely worried about running into financial difficulties. He comes has his tea we go and play basketball over the park and I drop him off, I get him anything he needs and contribute towards school uniforms, spend for his holidays with his mum, odd treats when he’s here, after school activities as well as other things on top of the CSA payments that have always been agreed verbally but now for whatever reason this has changed. I want to be the best dad I can be and always provide for my child and take responsibility but this just doesn’t seem right or change so much. If anyone could shed any light on this I would really appreciate your help. Hope you are all having a good weekend.
Thanks for reading,
Aidan.
Hi,
Unfortunately CMS will have you pay full maintenance if you are not the primary carer and child does not stay a minimum of 1 night a week with you. They claim they accept informal and formal evidence of shared care/overnights, but often they ask to see a court order confirming the arrangements. How old is child?
I would recommend you join this CMS support group for paying parents, very helpful: https://www.facebook.com/groups/239699060076601/?ref=share
@bill337 thanks for your reply, he has just turned 16. We go on holiday together once a year so I’m wondering if this counts as overnight stay. Just majorly down about it at the moment I don’t want to be a dad that doesn’t pay his way as I always have but the amount they are saying I genuinely cannot pay with my other outgoings. Just bills alone without any spend through the month I have 120 remaining and with this it now will leave me at a loss each month.
Hi
I think im going to be running into the same issue. Why cant he stay with you on the nights you are with him? Is this something you can discuss with your son? I guess no point talking to your ex as she seems to have been hot off the mark to contact the CMS to advise of the change.