Maintenace help

[Gusanita]

I've been trying to find information on what child support should and shouldn't cover as I am having arguments with my child's dad on this. We have been separated for a number of years and both of us work full time and earn a decent salary.

He has been paying maintenance and sees our child ~3 days a week on average. He is currently short on money (I don't know why) and is now asking that I pay for child care and hobbies for our child on the days that our child is with him.

I haven't found any information on what maintenance should and shouldn't cover but my thoughts are that as maintenance is scaled up/down depending on how much time the child is with both parents then this would imply that any costs for the child are covered by the parent looking after them on the day rather than all coming out of maintenance.

I have no problem paying for my child but my ex is emotionally abusive and selfish and uses whatever means necessary to put me down and make his life easier. I am trying to ensure that this doesn't continue happening whilst being fair and ensuring the best for our child.

Any advice would be appreciated :)

[Queenofthedrivensnow]

In the uk cm is 10% of the nrp income for one child. What the resident parent spends it on isn't specified and shouldn't be.

My exh position is that I pay for everything since I receive the maintenance/tax credits/cb.

[AnneLovesGilbert]

Does he have them for 3 nights a week or just the days and DC goes back to you overnight?

The reduction in child support is calculated on overnights. If he has them 3 nights, that's nearly 50/50 so you wouldn't be due that much maintenance anyway but he'd be paying for them on his days - childcare, food, clothing, hobbies. If it's not overnight, he's not getting any reduction for when he has them.

Either way, he only has to pay you what the CMS says and anything else will be by agreement between you. Which will be difficult if he's claiming poverty and an arse.