To ask about CSA changes - is anyone happy?

[pennypinchingnamechanger]

Sorry not a very exciting AIBU but just a topic of discussion I thought others might be interested in...

Everything I have read on here so far about the new Child Maintenance changes, moving from CSA to CMS, the charges, the new rules etc has been negative.

We will be better off financially under CMS rules.

AIBU to ask if anyone else will benefit from the changes too?

Basgetti. I have children too, I know how much things like uniform and shoes cost :)

Well if you can provide all uniforms, shoes, dinner money and school trips out of the CB then I salute you.

normal and dragonmama

It will take until 2017 to close all current CSA cases and move them over to cms so could happen anytime really, depend how fast they paper push! new cases will automactially go to cms

We've only got 2yrs left and I've a feeling they'll leave old ones that will end in the next 3yrs just run their course as it makes no sense to change these now.
I hope they don't cos I can't be bothered with the hassle!

basgetti did you know about uniform grant you can get, somebody was talking about it to me the other day. All years I been a sp and nobody told me, too late now my DD in college

givetosheets

Many LA's do not have a uniform grant

So what if neither parent gets CB or CTC and you have one who won't even make a packed lunch?

GiveTwoSheets no never heard of it either. I'm not a lone parent anymore and we manage fine now.

needaholidaynow I've already said that the parent with CB should make more contribution to reflect this. I just don't agree that the parent who doesn't get it should be absolved of any responsibility if the costs exceed this.

YANBU OP.

We started off on a private arrangement and it was shit, changing days, not agreeing to set up a SO.

Also about £100 short of what he should have been contributing. Best thing I ever did going to the CSA.

I can live with 4% fees if it means he pays the right amount and on time.

Not sure how he will react to the 20% he will have to pay though, is it 20% of the maintenance on top of the maintenance?

Agreed. My friend's situation was difficult because the shared residency meant that her ex got to make certain choices that he then refused to contribute to and she was left very much out of pocket. If he knew that he would have to make up some of the shortfall then I doubt he would have been so dogmatic. As it happened he was furious that she called the CSA. I'm not sure if the new rules will effect them because I think technically my friend has the DC more nights a year. But if he does no longer have to pay maintenance then he will no doubt be delighted and my friend will go back to struggling.

im a single parent to 4 children and we share care.

I personally don't see why he should have to pay mmaintenence as he has them as much as I do.

I don't work at the moment as ny twins are still little babies but I manage to get my kids school lunches I just budget and child benefits cover it. Also my kids get shoes, tshirts, shirts, trousers, dresses and jumpers from asda. there so cheap and hard wearing.

my dc1 starts secondary school soon so it will be different then.

The account is in my sister name, he can only pay in and not take out.

He is never late for payments and if there is a bank holiday he pays in early.

flippyflapper he doesn't have to pay maintance if that's what you both agree just phone them up and close the case if you have one with CSA. CSA was only there for those who refused to pay or couldn't reach a mutual agreement or cases where valid reasons for having no contact with other parent to get cm

I've not heard of these changes. I'm classed as the NRP and I pay ExH maintenance but I have the DCs 3 nights a week in term time and 5 nights in each holiday week. That works out roughly 50/50.
Will I be affected by these changes?

Penny, that's great as it's always been unfair that 50/50 care required either to pay child support.

always unfair? even where there is a huge discrepancy in incomes? even where one parent's working pattern requires that they have childcare in place whilst the other is able to work around the children...leaving the one who needs childcare to pay for it 100% of the time despite the 50/50 arrangement because they need that to be able to work around the other parent? even where one parent is paying all miscellaneous costs - school uniform, school shoes, school dinners, haircuts, clubs and other activities?

50/50 care, in my experience (my own and that of other's I know) has never meant that costs have been shared equally.

And then with CTCs on top of that as well. The parent who claims these in a 50/50 shared care situation is in a better position because of this financial help, than the other parent.

really? they are better off because they are able to claim tax credits? surely that is only in situations where the parents earn exactly the same and neither has experienced any kind of disadvantage in the workplace as a result of having children?

Feduobutfine My DH earns more than his ex, he's worked long hours for years to build his career, works long hours now and unsociable hours, his ex works less than full time and priorities other things in her life. Which is all fine, personal choices of each but there's no way he should pay her maintenance just because she earns less than he does.

She' pays for childcare DH doesn't as I am a SAHM. She has the choice to let DSD come here instead of child are but she chooses paid childcare, DH shouldn't have to pay maintenance for her choices.

DH pays half of everything for his DD, she gets CB and tax credits too and has been getting maintenance from DH for ages. It's absolutely unfair!

yeah, whatever....my experience is very different. I have an opinion. Last time I looked it was permissible to question the logic of a situation.

Discrepancy in income is a major issue. Quality of life in each household is an issue. Children shouldn't be seeing one parent laughing all the way to the bank about how they're doing their bit without having to pay any extras and then go to the other parent and understand just how many sacrifices are being made to pay for the basics in life. If you are going to share the care of children, the costs need to be shared.

I know few parents who would be happy having a step parent care for their children 100% of the time. But hey, why don't you rub your stay at home parent partnership in the faces of all those of us struggling to make ends meet whilst we simultaneously try and do the best by our children?

So when you describe 50/50, what you mean is 50/50 by proxy then? If your DH works long unsociable hours, enabled by you providing his free childcare?

I don't see the big fuss over being charged. Most services carry a charge so it's no difference. Why should the state fund a service as somebody had a child with another and they now can't agree support themselves? Fair enough when child support was offset against benefits as that made sense but to do it for free is not worth it as it doesn't do a thing for the government to justify it.-happymummyofone

it helps children shouldn't that be enough? why should people duck responsibilities just because they feel like it i was prevented from working for years due to my daughters illness my ex did not help i tried everything he went and made loads more kids instead blamed me for his depression and collected disability then i met my husband and he worked worked so he was paying to raise another man's child we tried to have my husband adopt her my ex refused we honestly expected him to ask for visitation or something at that point he never did is this my daughters fault? think of it like a prescription they get them free when they are children CSA should be free for children

pennypinching sounds about right!

She's entitled to make her own decisions based on what she feels is right for her child.

Have you ever thought perhaps it's not practical for the child to go to yours daily? That perhaps she prefers to use childcare so she can pick the child up and take them home for dinner together, the two of them.

Penny, how much did his ex sacrifice her career and earning potential by cutting her hours to enable his earning power.

For example I earn £750 per month, i work part time. Together we made the decision that I would cut my hours and be home more for DS. If I didn't cut my hours I would be earning £1250 a month. If I went full time now I would be applying for a full time job so I would drop my banding in work and would gain £200 a month.

If we ever split up, I could not afford to live and I would expect maintence to be able to meet the needs of the children.