To ask this about child maintenance

[OnlyChangedNameForThis]

Trying to keep this as unemotive as possible and have changed my user name so I can share responses with my ex spouse.

If someone pays child maintenance, is it expected that a chunk of this money be used by the resident parent to pay towards household bills (e.g. gas, electricity, water, rent not covered by housing benefit, food). Or is it OK for it to be spent towards some of these bills and not others?

Not going to say here whether I am the resident or non resident parent as I don't want to affect replies one way or the other

The child maintenance paid in this case is £330 per month

Does that make any difference?

It doesn't make a difference if it's a fiver or thousands, the nrp has no say.

The amount of money is completely irrelevant. It is for the recieving parent to decide and spend as they deem fit.

No

Why would it make any difference?

unless the RP has a unique child that doesn’t need fed, doesn’t use heat or electricity, or doesn’t need housed then why would it be an issue for some of the maintenance to be used for these things?

What if the child wanted a new pair of shoes but the resident parent has said they need to wait til next month

and the resident parent works part time rather than full time and has mental health issues whereas non resident parent has always worked full time

Once paid to the parent who has residency it is down to them to use as they see fit. No one should have a say because let's face it maintenance doesn't cover much of the expenses of bringing up a child!!

£330! So I'm guessing that it only costs £660 for resident parent to keep a roof over child's head and pay all the bills and feed said child??

Still wouldn't make a difference - the money has probably been allocated. A want is not the same as a need- the nrp can always pay extra to cover a pair of shoes

Maybe the NRP should help out with the shoes! They don't have to only give the required amount of CM< that is only the bare minimum.

but should the bills be the resident parents' responsibility. So the resident parent might need to stand on their own two feet and pay the bills - if the money is the child's money?

Agree with a PP, child maintenance is the bare minimum, there's no reason why they shouldn't contribute toward things for the child over and above this. Resident parent shouldn't have to buy everything with no contribution

Children who want non-essential things (I’m assuming non essential given you said “want” not “need”) will have to wait until their parent chooses the timing.

Some children who need new shoes will have to wait until there is spare cash!

Look, the whole “not saying” is just daft.

If you’re the RP - ignore the NRP’s cribbing
If you’re the NRP - stop cribbing, it’s not up to you to decide how the RP spends money.

BTW - still not saying if I am the NRP or the RP trying to clarify this

Bingo, you’re either the NRP or the wife of the NRP.

Single mother works part time due to health issues, can’t indulge a child’s whim of new shoes = stick to beat her with.

Gross.

If the RP can't afford the shoes until the next month they cant afford them. It feels from your posts you are the NRP. Is there a background here that you believe none of the money is actually being spent on the child? Do you believe there is neglect?

The money isn't the child's money, it is the NRPs contribution towards covering the additional costs the RP has by having the child more of the time

The money isnt the child’s

It’s the RP’s money. To go toward the cost of raising the child.

You’re clearly the NRP, or their partner, with that comment. it’s none of your business what it’s spent on

Well 330 isn’t going to go very far per month. That’s not much at all.

I'm just trying to make sure both RPs and NRPs points of view are taken into account and not steer things too much. Genuinely interested to find out views on this forum as figuring you'll be the experts.

It doesn’t matter how much the maintenance is or who works what hours. The maintenance is for the resident parent to use as they see fit, towards their child, including housing costs. Nothing to do with the NRP.

If the child needs shoes and the resident parent can't afford it this month then the NRP should buy the bloody shoes if they can afford it. A child need shoes, will someone just buy the child shoes?

To be fair the CM could be spent on childcare, food, clothing, the electricity they use in the house. It is just money added into a pot for buying things, that might be paying for council tax, it is just part of the pot. If the child is being neglected in the resident parent home then maybe they should be more 50/50 or start to live with the NRP.

Your “side” of things is very clear after your “own two feet” comment.

It’s not the child’s money. It’s money to the child’s parent for the maintenance of that child, which will by necessity include things like shoes and things like utility bills for the home they live in. Once the money has come to the resident parent it’s up to them how they budget it, to contribute to the finances of the child’s home.