Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not want to pay child maintenance?

102 replies

lemonybarcode · 26/05/2012 22:56

Hi I have four children, the younger two are looked after by me and their father exactly 50/50 in terms of nights/time. I pay for all clothes/haircuts/swimming lessons/shoes/school trips etc for both of them. I work full time and their father does not work.

He has now been awarded child benefit for the youngest child, this means that I am not eligible for any CTC, but also that I cant claim any childcare costs for the youngest when i am at work during the school hols (obv their father has no need for this as he is not working). It also means that he can claim maintenance for the youngest child. AIBU in being pissed off that he can get £200 odd a month from me (and therefore make me unable to provide for all 4 kids) or should I just suck it up? Any advice?

OP posts:
Kayano · 26/05/2012 23:20

So you want the money, the job, no maintenence claimed off you but he does half the work?

I think it sounds fair. If you appeal he will have literally have nothing hen the kids are with him and it's your kids that will suffer

Original poster
lemonybarcode · 26/05/2012 23:21

Its the 15 per cent of my income that grates!

OP posts:
RandomMess · 26/05/2012 23:23

Well the 15/20% is reduced by the number of nights you have the dc Wink

If you get CB for both of them do you get the childcare CTC element or do you earn too much to qualify?

ARe you paying for childcare on "his" days - if you do then stop that straight away.

Original poster
lemonybarcode · 26/05/2012 23:23

Kayano - he does half the work, but does not take any financial responsibilty for them. He took vol redundancy 2 yrs ago and got £70k which he squandered

OP posts:
Original poster
lemonybarcode · 26/05/2012 23:24

random: Ive stopped getting Cb for the youngest as it has gone to him

OP posts:
CrispyCod · 26/05/2012 23:25

Does he have form for being a lazy fecker then?

Mosman · 26/05/2012 23:27

Well Lemon, plenty of women do it so i guess what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.

Dropdeadfred · 26/05/2012 23:28

Yes it will be 7.5% of your income because he only has them 50:50

Olympia2012 · 26/05/2012 23:29

How does it affect income support and housing benefit? Thise are separate

Why isn't he on JSA?

Original poster
lemonybarcode · 26/05/2012 23:32

He has been on JSA but will get IS and HB due to the age of the youngest, which he has claimed for.
Crispy: yes he does have form for being a lazy fucker- hence he is no longer DP!

OP posts:
Mosman · 26/05/2012 23:33

he'll be claiming he cannot job seek if the child is under 7 i guess.

Olympia2012 · 26/05/2012 23:34

5 under new rules which came in last week. It's now age 5.

Original poster
lemonybarcode · 26/05/2012 23:34

Funny that he cant seek a job, but altho we have 50/50 care, I can hold down a fulltime job by juggling!

OP posts:
RandomMess · 26/05/2012 23:34

I was coming on to say it's age 5 now, younger if they are in full time school surely Wink

RandomMess · 26/05/2012 23:36

I meant were you getting CTC childcare element?

If you were then surely that's an argument for you not surrending/agreeing to him having it as it is impacting on your financial ability to work full time...

Olympia2012 · 26/05/2012 23:36

No, full time school isn't til age 5

He only has to work 16 hours

Original poster
lemonybarcode · 26/05/2012 23:36

the youngest is 5 and in fulltime school, but my understanding is that its age 7 at the mo that is the cut off point?

OP posts:
Olympia2012 · 26/05/2012 23:37

No, it changed on Monday.

Original poster
lemonybarcode · 26/05/2012 23:38

Random: I was getting the CTC childcare element - and yes that has now stopped, I argued that that effected my ability to work, but it fell on deaf ears :(

OP posts:
RandomMess · 26/05/2012 23:38

It changed in the new financial year, begining of April?

Mine were in full time school just after they turned 4 (August birthdays) as school only does one intake - okay so not compulsary but I didn't want them going into year 1 and skipping receptions which was the alternative in Surrey.

RandomMess · 26/05/2012 23:38

Appeal and appeal, you have nothing to lose.

AnAirOfHope · 26/05/2012 23:38

You get hb when you claim jsa.

Original poster
lemonybarcode · 26/05/2012 23:38

ah ok thanks Olympia

OP posts:
RandomMess · 26/05/2012 23:38

Get your local mp involved.

Original poster
lemonybarcode · 26/05/2012 23:40

Anairofhope: yes but the HB is effected by being 'responsible' for a child

OP posts: