Do you think child support in the U.K. is a fair amount?

[user123344]

Do you think child support in the U.K. is a fair amount and should it have to be paid?

Considering every case is different there is no way to answer that. Who are you writing an article for?

I'm not writing an article I just wondered if people think proportionally that it's a fair and reasonable amount?
I think it's the bare minimum but my ex seems to think it's very unreasonable. (And it's a v small amount he has to pay anyway as he earns under 20k)

What I think is unfair is that so many NRPs just seem to see it as optional. They’ll have the latest phone, large TV package etc but paying for their child is bottom of the pile. Now that grates.

There's too many variables in every case to be able to say whether its fair.

Youll also get a massive bias because nrps will always say thay pay enough and a lot of rps will cry that its not enough. Usually they have never been in each other shoes so will never be understanding towards each others situation.

When you say child support do you mean child benefit or child maintenance?

Maintenance and what is an nrp?

Well, based only on experience of friends, no. Have a friend who gets £40 a month for her dd from her dad (who has never even met her because he ran off with someone else before she was born). He had a good job (I know where he works and what he does, he’s not self employed as far as I know so who knows how he’s hiding his income) and owns several tenanted properties he earns income on monthly. But...£40 a month. While having a nice house and a new wife and going on to choose to have two more children.

No it's not.

They stop at 3 kids as well, so if you have more than that the nrp doesn't have to pay more. They can also claim financial responsibility if they move in with someone who has kids, which is utter bullshit. 2 parents paying for them then the new step parent comes along and gives their own kids less while paying for ones that aren't even related yes I'm bitter

It's an impossible question to answer. I'd be a bit controversial here though and say that where a parent refuses to let the NPR have equal access, or makes access nigh on impossible, then payments should be suspended.

I think it is wrong that it's based on income with no heed paid to assets. So a very wealthy person who doesn't work could in theory pay nothing. Totally wrong.

I think in some situations it's not fair on the paying parent at all. I have seen a couple of men kicked out of the family home when the relationship ends and have to find a room in a shared house or a cheap bedsit. Because they lived in a city, didn't drive so needed to be fairly close for work and contact they had to pay for expensive (but shit accommodation). After paying all rent, bills and previous debts they literally couldn't afford the amount the CSA was asking for. I do feel sorry for some men in that situation, you're in a relationship and make financial commitments based upon your situation and then it all comes to an end beyond your control. I do believe that if they can prove severe financial hardship they should be allowed to reduce the payments.

However, some other men just take the piss. Hiding incomes and refusing to pay and seemingly getting away with it.

I don't know.... I am taking about 10+ years ago.
But when the CSA calculated what DH should pay I was a bit shocked - not about the amount as it was less than we where paying as someone thought be be clever! But the fact that at the time, a teen at college (16) was awarded almost the same as 2 younger children together, one still in nappies.
That did seem unfair. I know things have changed but not sure if the actual "allocation" has.
The problem in the UK is, that a family needs both parents to work for a half decent life. So for single parents, £50.- 200.- maintenance sounds almost like a piss in the ocean. Not sure about how to change things as obviously the NRP will need to live as well. Unless they claim tax credits ...

What is an nrp?

Non resident parent

It’s totally different in each case. It’s not based on the true cost of a child but the NRPs income. So in some cases it’s way I’m excess of what’s justifiable for raising a child and in others it’s way under.

I think CMS is too simplistic and it simply doesn’t fit.