School Uniforms and CMS

[Eazypeazy]

Dear all,

I get monthly child maintenance from the children's father. I have asked that he pays for half the childrens new school uniform but he is refusing. I have said that the CM does not cover the costs of the uniform but be thinks otherwise.

Am i being unreasonable in requesting this?

Well it depends on how much.
If he's paying you £5 a month, you have a point. If he's paying you £500 a month, not so much.

Are you getting the full amount you're entitled to?

Not unreasonable to ask. Not necessarily unreasonable for them to say no. Do they have them on any school nights? Can there be a compromise of contributing some costs towards in this circumstance? Its hard to say as there's so many factors which could influence where unreasonable or not.

he pays the full amount (not £5 a month) and i am getting the full amount I am entitled to.
The children stay with him on average 3 nights every week.

You're not unreasonable to ask but technically he is correct, if he's paying CMS amount he doesn't have to pay you anymore and it "should" cover all day to day expenses including uniform.

CMS is for everything, as long as he is paying that he doesn't have to contribute to anything else.

Its shit.

He should be providing what the children need on the days/nights they are with him, so if that is 2 school days a week and every other weekend then he should pay 40% of school uniform costs. The next issues arise over what one parent then thinks is needed compared to other e.g. £60 school shoes vs £10. 5 full sets of uniform vs 2/3 and washing midweek.

If you are getting the amount they suggest on the basis he has them 3 nights a week then yes he should contribute towards the school uniforms.

Which days a week does he have the DC?

Sadly the don't legally have to contribute to costs if they pay maintenance.

The decent ones realise that they should, because CMS is the minimum, but if they refuse there's nothing you can do about it unfortunately.

YANBU. My ex always pays half when it's uniform time, on top of the maintenance.

alternate weekends and some midweek

Well I think it depends on how much. If he gives you £1200 a month or something then I can see why he thinks he shouldn’t have to. If it’s £100 then yes he should. However as others point out legally he doesn’t have to

its £280 a month

What’s happened in previous years?

in previous years he has paid towards (but not every year) and has bought a few items to have at his.

They definitely should but legally don't have to, I certainly wouldn't provide any uniform when they stay in his midweek though. Make it clear if he isn't contributing then he buys his own uniform for when they're there. With my ex he just stopped having her midweek (hes a tight bastard) but that suited me anyway as he used to send her in with unbrushed hair and crap in her lunch box

Yanbu to ask at all. However he doesn't have to contribute iyswim.

The maintenance is for that OP YABU. you would also get the child benefit for the childrens stuff.

Maybe he is just not in a good position this yr. If money is also tight for you this yr. What sacings can be made ie what uniform still fits. What has to be replaces? What can be purchased secind hand? What needs to be new? Where can it be purchased, is there a cheaper shop ?

I don't think you are being unreasonable to ask though, my partner pays hundreds and still pays for his kids uniforms but he'd rather chuck money at the ex for an easy life.

He doesn’t legally have to pay any more, but morally he ought to.

Even CMS maintenance is fixed based on the number of night you / he have them overnight. Which means in theory he should pay a proportion equal to “his” days at the very least.

But you can’t make him pay it.

YANBU to ask.
He is NBU to decline if he’s paying what the CMS say he should.
Which is always the bare bloody minimum.
We pay half of DSD’s uniform costs and DP and his exW take it in turns to buy school shoes.

my boyfriend is in a similar position. He pays what the CMS tell him to pay every month and she still demands extra money for school uniforms, trips and the like.

It is just greed in my opinion

He doesn't have to give you any money, but if they're going to school from his house then he'll need to buy his own sets or wash yours. You don't need to send them with spare clothes for school

I know, bloody greedy mothers, needing money to feed and clothe their kids. Disgusting.

Everyone knows the minimum CMS calculations are more than enough for everything