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I'm the sole earner and pay everything, but are in the process of splitting up and I will be moving out.
We have a 1 year old.
Any advice appreciated!
I assume she will now be able to start claiming universal credit.
We share a mortgage, should I still pay half the mortgage on top of that?
Our kitchen is on finance, should she now pay half that?
Do I just deduct these amounts off the child maintenance I pay?
What about bills, does she now need to pay 100% of that?
I'm the sole earner and pay everything, but are in the process of splitting up and I will be moving out.
We have a 1 year old.
Any advice appreciated!
I assume she will now be able to start claiming universal credit.
We share a mortgage, should I still pay half the mortgage on top of that?
Our kitchen is on finance, should she now pay half that?
Do I just deduct these amounts off the child maintenance I pay?
What about bills, does she now need to pay 100% of that?
If the mortgage is in your name(s), you will (both) be expected to pay the mortgage.
Child maintenance payments help cover the everyday needs of the child such as food, clothing, haircuts and housing. Mortgage payments are taken into consideration when the CMS make a calculation for child maintenance.
Universal Credit is designed to top-up (within reason) any shortfall your ex. (i.e., the main carer) might have to provide adequate accommodation and basis living costs for the child.
@infodesk thanks that's really helpful. What about gas, electric, water etc? Should I also contribute to that on top of child maintenance?
Hopefully going to do this as an agreement rather than using the child maintenance service
Hi @SalfordMan, Gas, electric, etc., would all be covered under the child maintenance payments you make, so no, you wouldn't need to pay any more money unless a legal arrangement is in place through the court that stipulates otherwise.@infodesk thanks that's really helpful. What about gas, electric, water etc? Should I also contribute to that on top of child maintenance?
Hopefully going to do this as an agreement rather than using the child maintenance service
If the other party wants to make a claim for living costs, they would need to make an application to the court to receive more maintenance (outside of the CMS' scope), which may well prove unsuccessful given that the Government already provides help for low income families / single parents to cover such costs c/o Universal Credit, etc.
I hope this is of help.
Hi,
There is some useful info here:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/how-to-separate1/deciding-what-to-do-when-you-separate/
With Child maintenance you can try reach own Agreement. You can use this calculator to help:
https://www.gov.uk/calculate-child-maintenance
The advicenow.org.uk website has a survival guide to living together and breaking up, also a guide on finances after divorce which might help. You will also need to agree child contact arrangements. Mediation could help with both of these as its best to avoid court if you can
I would look at the child maintenance calculator and see what they calculate you should pay, and use that as a basis. I assume you aren't married? If that's the case, then there is no divorce settlement, but I would suggest that you get some professional legal advice, again just so you have some idea of where you should be negotiating.
Massive help in a very stressful time, thank you very much
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