AIBU to be surprised at how much Child maintenance costs?

[demystified]

I have 1 child and earn 16.5k a year. Out of curiosity(thread on here) I put these details in the child maintenance calculator and based on having my child 1 or 2 nights a week it says I would pay £33 a week.

They must be having a laugh, or am I missing something? Is there another part to it?

What is it you take issue with?

£33 a week is nothing! Rent/mortgage, heat, light, clothing, food all mount up.

Well kids are expensive.

Thats £1716 a year. My ex pays £1300 a year.

That you can pretty much walk away from your kid for 10% of your earnings.

I have no idea if yabu since your post is very unclear - do you mean OMG £33 a week is too much or OMG £33 is a pittance?

What don't you get?

Oh, ok. I see.

I don't get the issue? It costs a lot more than £33 to look after a child 5 nights a week with after school clubs, school meals, clothes, the list goes on. No matter what the resident parent earns they still have to pay out for their child. Even nom resident parents on benefits have some removed for maintenance payments.

Sorry I was asking if there was another part of it because it is so low. I put in other weekly earning and it seems to always be just over 10% of earnings.

You arent walking away. You have them two nights a week.

I agree. It is ridiculously low. Imagine having a child, leaving the relationship and contributing the grand total of £33 a week towards your child.

Ahh, you dont think its enough?

If thats the case then YANBU.

I get £23 a week per child from my EXp.

I know some LPs who get £5 a fortnight split between 2 or 3 children.

I know others who get none from their DCs other parent.

I see! Yes it is a unreasonably low amount. My ex walked away and did pay £10 a fortnight out of benefits. And then that stopped trickling in and CSA didn't chase for non payment. I cancelled the case and don't get anything. So parents can walk away for even less than £33/week

I get less than £20 a week for my dd.

It's a joke.

My ex hasnt had DD over night since 2011 I think. And sees her about 8 times a year for a day each time. So he pretty much walked away.

Ahhh nevermind. Thought this was another thread moaning about having to pay cm.

I get 1,800 for three kids. A YEAR.

£60 a month for 1 DC but nothing around xmas or birthday as EXP buys DC gifts!

So hes effectively making the DC pay for their own gifts.

I would also think that the percentage should go up as the earnings go up. £20 to someone earning £200 a week is a lot more than £80 to someone earning £800 a week.

From what I have seen though that doesn't happen. My friend is on a good wage and left his wife and child after 3 months because "he couldn't handle it", I thought it would be costing him a lot more though I suppose he could be paying extra, I haven't asked him.

It is 15% of earnings for one child, reduced to 10% if they stay with the non resident parent for so many nights a year. My ds stays with his dad every other weekend and half of every holiday and this means he pays 10%

£33 a week?! Children are really expensive, that is absolutely nothing. Do you think you could raise a child on that (or even double that - since both parents should be contributing)? YABU.

It's disgustingly low. My ex doesn't see our DD, so of course doesn't have her overnight at all. I get more than most as he's in a well paid job, but it still doesn't cover even nearly half the costs of raising her. So I have to pick up the shortfall despite him earning a shit of a lot more than my benefits give me (I'm in education) and having his OW living with him who is also on a good wage. His disposable income is such that he's extremely comfortable but he still doesn't pay a penny more than he's legally bound to.