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Hi - I currently have an informal arrangement for child maintenance with my ex. The amount we have agreed is based on using the CSA calculator against my earning. My ex is now asking for extra payments for things like school uniform. I have our child over 175 nights and therefore more than she does slightly in any one year. There is no formal agreement but this is suppose to be on a 50/50 care basis. Therefore with paying maintenance and the cost clothing, feeding etc when the child is with me along with mobile phone costs etc. I am not sure about paying for extras such as school uniform considering I am already paying maintenance and looking after the child more. Isn't this what I am paying child maintenance for? Do I legally need to contribute to additional items? Whilst I want to care for the child and pay maintenance my ex wife does not work and receives the benefits and therefore not contributing financially at all. Do I legally have to pay additional fees
i'm sure this question has com e up in recent weeks.......have a search further down the legal section or in the Financial one....
you are only obligated to pay a % of your wages as maintenance.....in theory this is supposed to go toward feeding, clothing and does include towards keeping a roof over your childs head.....anythign extra over and above these is voluntary and to be honest your call......i would guess that school uniforms etc... should be part of the clothing...if your ex is on benefits she'll be getting child allowances....you don't!!!
however a 50/50 split between you and the ex wouldn't be totally unreasonable would it? they're your kids too. however try proving your ex used the money for your kids and not the new boots she turns up in or the new dress or holidays that you struggle to find the money to do!!!
No you dont not. Are you paying her exactly what the csa calculator said i.e the number of nights she stays at yours? I suppose school uniforms are expensive. Could you maybe not agree to give her a little less each month to help her with the expensive stuff when needed?
Thanks for the feedback. I see your point in paying the money because it is my child but however I am already paying for mobile phone, hair cuts and out of school activities on top of the maintenance I pay so feel that asking for yet more is just pushing it more considering she has the benefits as you pointed out and isn't financially making any contribution at all. The comment on the money going towards the ex is just about right though as she is driving around in a new car and managed to go on holiday abroad last year without taking our child with her!
Give her what you should through CSA then you dont legally have to pay anymore for anything else. If you share the care though why do you still have to pay the CSA? Why does she not have job?
I wish I knew why I still had to pay CSA. Apparently not considered resident parent and therefore csa makes the non resident parent still pay maintenance even if the care is shared - it's stupid but the law apparently.!
As for her not having a job apparently is training in health care - but that is more important than actually having a job and being able to financially support her child! I wish I had the choice of re-training in another career but if I did that our child would go without even more!
Well the csa is about to change in 2014 so that may change too. Your paying her money and already paying extra bits and bobs so no dont pay her anymore or help her. I am a single mum with a baby, I work and at college part time. Your ex needs to get a grip. Sorry to sound harsh 🙂
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