Should childcar be split? Working FT

[CrushedCan]

DD father currently pays £30 a week child makntenance. (only when he feels like it and earns about £600 PW). He sees her once every 6 weeks for 2 days.I work full time and childcare is a fortune. Am I wrong in asking for half some of the childcare to be paid and for more maintenance money? All opinions welcome!

[Vickster99]

I think so yes. At the end of the day in theory you both have equal responility for the child so in order to enable you both to work its reasonable to split the childcare 50:50. My ex pays half + extra on top for her food, clothing etc but I know I'm lucky.
I know there are people who wouldnt agree with me though.
If you were to go to csa you'd probably get more than £30 pw but proabbly not as much as half the childcare.

[Starlightbright1]

for the fact he only pays when he feels like it I would got to cms... While previous poster is right it may work out fincancially better now....do consider how long you will need childcare for. It will be reduced when DD starts school.

Also if you are reliant for childcare payment of someone who pays ad hoc then it sounds very risky.

Also be aware is he Self employed as they is often the case people seem to hide it to cms

[Teaching123]

I have worked FT since DD was 1 (and not been with XP). I have worked out that over the past 4 years I have spend an average of £36,000 on childcare - he's not spent a thing.

It used to make me angry that there was no way round this (he actually sees DD every other weekend and once a week in the week - so should pay some - but doesn't).

It is shit. Can you apply for tax credits to help?

[madamtremain]

Csa or whatever it's called now doesn't take in to account childcare costs at all. In my opinion any days that dad is having his maintenance reduced for should be his responsibility in full - this should mean he pays for or arranges childcare on those days. That should be a minimum.

My ex and I agreed that because we both had careers, and childcare was a good 1k a month, we should split it. £200/300 maintenance should be enough in theory, but chuck in a childcare bill and it's barely touches the real costs of being an RP.

Saying all of that, if the RP claims tax credits against childcare, the NRP should only pay half of what remains.

My husband's ex wife led him a merry dance for a long time having him pay for half the childcare bill, while she was receiving 80% of it already through tax credits

If your ex pays you £30, and unreliable at that, it is unlikely that he will see it your way. Best go to Csa because although they won't get him to pay childcare, at least you'll get what you're due

[CrushedCan]

Thank you ladies! it's going through court re Csa as he lives abroad and refuses to move back...I think because he thinks he's untouchable maintenance wise! I'll just add the costs onto the papers! See how untouchable he is then!! Thank you!

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

As a LP you are highly likely to receive 70 percent towards your childcare costs.

[CrushedCan]

Yes hacked I will however that means I'll be paying about £50 a week in childcare. ?? some men get it so easy

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

So just ask him for an extra £25pw to cover half of your childcare bill.

[Starlightbright1]

My advise reading this thread. is you can ask for the £25 however if you aren't even getting regular childcare this is unlikely to happen. when he gets the calculation they won't take into account the childcare costs. However if he earns £600 pw he should be paying much more.

Focus on not relying on his money and use any as a bonus.

He may get out of paying however he is missing out on a relationship while hiding away.