Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

to be peeved pension contributions are disregarded as income for child maintenance purposes.

73 replies

adventuretime11 · 26/02/2015 10:40

Just that really. Seriously considering leaving my not so dh. Worried about being able to afford split despite his high income. Maintenance will cover mortgage but couldn't afford to buy him out. Also not sure lender would even give me a mortgage. With 3 young dc I will probably have to sahm for another 3 years.
He pays 400 per month into his pension which will not be counted for child maintenance purposes. Aibu to think this is unfair.

OP posts:

SurlyCue · 28/02/2015 17:11

HOW - if the children are preschool and you cannot earn enough to put them in nursery!?

As a lone parent you should be entitled to up to 70% of your childcare costs paid for by working tax credits. I have definitely been better off financially when working as a lone parent than when on income support as a lone parent. Have you tried checking on entitled to and turn2us?

turquoiseamethyst · 28/02/2015 17:23

Up to surly - not "completely"!

There's a bit of a difference! FWIW for two in full time childcare even 70% of costs would still mean I would have to find nearly £500 a month to make up the difference!

SurlyCue · 28/02/2015 17:37

Up to surly - not "completely"!

Yes, up to 70%- it is dependant on your income- the more you earn the less you would get towards childcare (obvious really because you would be earning more so would need less WTC to cover the childcare.

Fwiw- fulltime out of the home work isnt the only type of work available and it certainly wasnt what i was suggesting for the OP. There are plenty of options out there which will vary in suitability according to people's individual circumstances (number of children, age of children, available childcare, qualifications, skills, location, family support, health, living expenses) if you want to work there is usually a way, it just involves a bit of thinking outside the box and an open mind. Is childminding an option for you?

ScotsWhaHae · 28/02/2015 17:43

I've been caught out with the pension contributions with regards to tax credits.

I was under the impression that deducted your contributions from your top line and that was your earnings. If you have a pension that's through your work this isn't the case because you are already getting tax relief on your contribution. It's inky if it's a stand alone pension that you pay into after getting taxed on your wages that you deduct it from your earnings.

I was fuming when I found out, and overpaid because of this. Despite asking at renewal time 'do I deduct my pension contributions' and getting told yes.

turquoiseamethyst · 28/02/2015 17:43

No, not at the moment.

velvetspoon · 28/02/2015 17:54

£830 is a decent amount. It's far from impossible to work with young children. And if you return to work on a relatively low salary you'll get a substantial amount of tax credits.

Do bear in mind your H might well want more than 1 overnight per fortnight. The norm among divorced parents I know is 2/7-3/7. And he should be entitled to put what he wants into a pension provided he can meet the level of child maintenance set by the CSA. Unfortunately once you split how he spends his residual income is none of your business, just like how he won't be able to comment on how you spend yours.

However if you don't like the thought of having to work, then don't split up.

turquoiseamethyst · 28/02/2015 18:07

Velvet it can, actually, be near enough impossible to work with young children but at any rate, £830 is not a huge amount in relation to a salary.

I had a long thread with almost identical circumstances last week.

SurlyCue · 28/02/2015 18:19

turquoise ive just seen your AIBU thread and see you mention not being a low earner so i. Am guessing that means you have a good level of education and some decent skills under your belt- would there be a way to utilise your skills working from home in some way? I have no idea what field you worked in (being a PE teacher mighnt be possible at home - but a personal trainer might be ) but its worth taking a look at how you could adapt and adjust what you have to make it pay the bills from home. Or you could go in a completely new direction from previous jobs and do something else from home. As i said- i have no idea what you are capable of- only you do, but i certainly wouldnt call it a locked door if you havent had a real good look at all your options.

turquoiseamethyst · 28/02/2015 18:23

I don't really have any previous jobs, and absolutely can't work in my "field" from home.

Yes, there are things people can try but many are risky and many still need startup costs which you just can't risk when you have little spare funds and a young family.

No one is saying it's a locked door permanently but working with very small children CAN be practically impossible. I've been thinking of how I can, and have unfortunately had to conclude I can't for a couple of years at least.

ScotsWhaHae · 28/02/2015 18:25

How old are your kids?

SurlyCue · 28/02/2015 18:27

What did you mean by not being a low earner then if you havent had any jobs?

turquoiseamethyst · 28/02/2015 18:29

You said previous jobs

I have only had one previous job which cannot be done from home :)

SurlyCue · 28/02/2015 18:37

I think youre being a bit silly. Previous jobs- meaning any previous jobs, even if it was just the one.

What is your field? - to be clear i mean the nature of your previous job(singular) and not what kind of field do you live in and does it have crop circle

turquoiseamethyst · 28/02/2015 18:39

I am certainly not being silly; I think you're being rather impolite, however.

Yes, I recognise what you mean, but as I have explained, I have only had one job and that was as a teacher, which as you conceded above cannot be done from home.

JillyR2015 · 28/02/2015 18:39

Why don't you work? Many women make their own pension contributions and earn more than their husbands when they have children. I earned 10x what mine did. Can you not get a full time job like the rest of us?

SurlyCue · 28/02/2015 18:42

I have only had one job and that was as a teacher, which as you conceded above cannot be done from home.

Oh goodness i was expecting you to say you were a diesel mechanic or something! A teacher! And you dont think its possible to use that to make money from home? Really?

turquoiseamethyst · 28/02/2015 18:44

Oh dear

Jilly - with three young children it is unlikely the OP will be able to earn enough to cover the costs of childcare; in fact there is a very good chance that she would be working at a loss.

For all those confident tax credits are the answer, they are certainly a help - BUT - not everyone is entitled and they do not cover everything.

My childcare costs for two under 3s will be around £1600 a month; I also have an older child who would need before and after school care. Even if the full 70% of that was paid (and it wouldn't be) I would still have to find an additional £500 p/m.

Unfortunately, the sums do not always add up.

turquoiseamethyst · 28/02/2015 18:47

Surly gosh, you have no manners at all, do you? So rude.

I wonder what you will suggest? Tutoring? I'm sure prospective tutees would be just delighted to study with a toddler rampaging around and a newborn baby crying!

Exam marking? You need recent experience, which I do not have.

So go on. What other things has stupid, dim little me not thought of? Really!

Do you think you are Professor Umbridge or something?

SurlyCue · 28/02/2015 18:47

Yes but you would be earning a wage during the month from which to find that £500! Full time as a teacher what was your monthly take home (or what would it be now?)

SurlyCue · 28/02/2015 18:50

Surly gosh, you have no manners at all, do you? So rude.

I really dont think i have been rude but apologies if i have. I do wonder if it is just perhaps you dont like that i am questioning your position on this issue. Anyway, it is clear you are not interested in any suggestions so i'll drop it now. Its no skin off my nose if you dont work.

turquoiseamethyst · 28/02/2015 18:51

Identical to the cost of two children in childcare - £1600.

Plus my elder child.

Plus the fact I would not get 70% paid; more like 40%

Then commuting costs.

treacleturkey · 28/02/2015 18:52

I think you would be better off working than trying to wrangle more money from your ex - you're already getting a fair whack!

I used to earn about 17k and got 70% of my childcare costs paid for which helped HUGELY, as well as tax credits on top.

Viviennemary · 28/02/2015 18:52

But pension contributions aren't part of net income any more than tax or NI is. I'm afraid I just don't see the argument here.

ScotsWhaHae · 28/02/2015 18:54

No school holidays to stress about though so in reality your child care would be less over the year.

It's not impossible. Many do it. If you don't want to them fine.

ScotsWhaHae · 28/02/2015 18:55

And why not part time?

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread