How would maintenance be worked out for DSD?

[catsofa]

How would maintenance be calculated for my partner's eldest daughter, if my DP didn't have much income at all but lived off my (low) income and benefits we are entitled to as a couple (with a child between us as well)?

Would it take my income into account? What if his only income is part of a joint claim with me?

I'm just confused because we've recently had to combine into one household due to moving in together, and now I don't understand how it might be sensible to calculate what (if anything) we should be giving to DP's ex for DSD.

[CheeseandGherkins]

Isn't your dp working? The "if anything" comment is just wrong, why does he not WANT to provide for his daughter? If they still lived together as a family then his little money would be used on the family, so why, just because he isn't there should he provide nothing?

So wrong on so many levels

[JodieMacdonald31]

Yes your benefits would be counted and deductible

[catsofa]

Thanks Jodie, I keep reading that my income wouldn't count but then I can't see how he could be assessed fairly if it wasn't, since his income is now joint with mine. Would my own earnings be included too (that are not from benefits)? They are technically mine alone, but they obviously affect what benefits we get as a household.

Cheese I didn't say he (or I!) doesn't want to provide so why would you assume that? We're all amicably just trying to figure out what would be fair, no drama involved. DP's income varies a lot and we don't have a large income all told at all, so it may well be that an official assessment would not ask us to pay anything, apart from of course when DSD is actually staying with us. But we'd like to figure out for sure to guide us in making an agreement between ourselves.

[toastyarmadillo]

Use the child maintenance options website, there are lots of examples as well as a calculator. Even on v low incomes nrp pays something, often a token amount like 5.00
Living with your daughter also reduces it, as does number of overnight stays etc

[lunar1]

It would be worked out on the benefits paid in his name, unless he has her 50/50. It sounds like it would be the minimum £5 per week.

[swingofthings]

He legally probably will only need to pay £5 a week, it is then up to everyone to decide whether this is fair. Will he only contribute that much towards the child you have together?

[Bigfeet21]

The legal and the moral dilemma.

No your income does not count and should not - but let's be honest £5 per week is not going to pay for bringing his DD up.

Undoubtedly people will say if he has not got it then he can not pay it, but then the SKy TV goes, other luxuries, nights out, a beer with the boys - because that is invariably what the RP ends up doing to cover the missing costs.
Your DP then needs to look at the unpalatable fact - that his EX is supporting his new family. However, this fact just seems to fly over the heads of most NRPs ( male or female) and on whatever income.

[Yellowpansies]

Your earned income won't count at all. With tax credits I'm fairly sure that working tax credit will count as your income (because you're the one who's working) but child tax credit will count as your DP's income. It's likely he'll be assessed at £5 a week, so you can decide how much above this you want to offer. If you're making a joint decision for you to be the family breadwinner and him a SAHD then it would seem fair to contribute something out your earnings. But if everyone's on low incomes it won't be much as you'll not be getting any tax credits for DSD. DSD's mum on the other hand can claim additional benefits for DSD if she's on a low income.

[Seasidelove28]

As I understand if you are cohabiting the household income is taken into account as with any taxcredits/UC and then the maintenance is a % of the whole income

[Yellowpansies]

No that's wrong seaside (unless you're not in the UK?) It's definitely only the parent's income that's assessed, not their partner's.

[Seasidelove28]

the benefits are joint (household) so counted, not her wages but taxcredits are. Happened to my sister when she got married and moved in with dh who has 3 kids

[Lucked]

I agree with yellow if it is a joint decision between you two for him to be a SAHD then morally I think you should consider giving more than the minimum because you haven't taken the financial impact on his child into consideration.

[AvaCrowder]

£7.00 per week. That's a bit low to be raising a child on isn't it? What if rp only put in £7.00 as well.

Making the Tories look generous.

[coffeeisnectar]

It will only be assessed on his income and working tax credits.

CSA is taken from a joint claim for ESA to pay for my partners dd but that's now stopping and its going to the CMA. He's still waiting to hear what he's to pay but we are living on the absolute breadline as it is, no luxuries at all and struggled to kit my youngest out for her new school this year.

The ex has just forced the sale of their house and will be getting 75% of the proceeds. My dps share will cover our rent for a year, our ESA will stop and we probably won't have to pay anything until we either run out of money and its reinstated or he is deemed fit for work and finds a job.

It's not a case of "a decent dad would pay whatever the circumstances". Because if you have nothing to give then short of my kids doing without then ex will have to manage on the £90k she's just about to get (lives rent free in her dps house with two incomes) alongside the £65k she's already had and spent.

[catsofa]

Er we don't have Sky, not sure what that has to do with anything. Don't worry, DSD's mum is not having to raise her on just £7 per week .

Like I said, we're just trying to work out what the CSA might tell us as a starting point for a totally amicable agreement between us all, no drama involved. Sounds like my income might not be taken into account at all, we'll have to see if we think that's fair.

Our own finances are not fully sorted yet, I don't think we've claimed everything we are entitled to, so just trying to get a feel for what we might all end up with so we can give DSD's mum some sort of idea.

Thanks for the help!

[Bigfeet21]

coffeenectar - irrelevant what the mother has.

The father still has a responsibility to provide for his offspring.

[coffeeisnectar]

He haended over half his inheritance when he got it. She took every asset from the marriage and he's been left with very little. He didn't ask for his child to be taken from him, he didn't ask to become an eow/every few months parent because she decided she would rather be with someone else.

He has no say in his dds life, he's been shut out completely. She will not discuss dds medical issues, schooling or anything else. Says it's none of his business. But he is expected to keep paying. The system sucks.

[m1nniedriver]

Coffee he has rights as a father, the exW can't dobrgat. He should speak to a lawyer!

[LilacSpunkMonkey]

No, he doesn't have 'rights' as a father. Parents do not have 'rights' to their child. They have responsibilities towards them.

Children have the right to a relationship with their parents.

That's how the law works with regards to children and rights and responsibilities

I wish people would understand that.

[m1nniedriver]

Yes parents do have rights! They have the RIGHT to be involved in decisions made on their child's behalf. NRP have that right and NRP do not have the right to stop it.

[m1nniedriver]

RP even