Is this child maintenance enough?

[Ilovepugs2017]

First of all, just wanted to say I realise I am lucky that my child’s dad pays some form of child maintenance as I know a lot of dads don’t.

I’m wondering whether what my ex gives me for our son is enough though.

We split up when my son was a year and a half old (he’s now 13) and we sorted an agreement between us rather than going through child maintenance service.

He works full time - not sure what he does but he recently told me he couldn’t have our son when arranged as he had been offered a cover shift for a shift manager at £250 for 10 hours work which he wasn’t going to turn down.

Anyway he gives me £30 a week maintenance for our son which has been the same since he was little - obviously as he’s gotten older things cost more and he needs more money for things. Clothing for example is a lot more expensive now (he’s in men’s sizes as very tall) than it used to be when he was a toddler.

I know with the cost of living it’s impacting everyone so I was wondering whether it would be unreasonable for me to ask him whether there is anyway he could increase it a bit? As what he is giving me is helping a bit but not anywhere near enough.

Just for reference - he has him one night a week for half of the year so basically 26 nights a year on average.

He is taking him on a camping trip in august with his family for a few nights (rare occasion) and has asked whether I’d be giving him any spending money. Am I right to think this is unreasonable? I don’t ask for spending money from him when we go on a camping holiday….

Any advice would be great, thanks for reading X

@OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon I think the CMS would count her children as they live with him and hence financially dependent on him. Not sure whether his partner works or not….

@AnneLovesGilbert I have texted him to see if we can have a chat about changing the maintenance amount and will see if I get any response but if not will look down the CMS route then

@Radionowhere I know, it would have made sense for him to increase it over the years as he gets older and needs more etc but I guess he’s just happy to pay the bare minimum 🙄

I did tell him when he asked about spending money for the trip, that I’m struggling as it is with the amount of maintenance he gets and that I doubt I’d be able to give him spending money for this trip.

We take him away a couple of times a year - nothing extravagant camping and maybe butlins but I don’t ask him for spending money for him to go so it seems unfair that he would ask me!

Doesn't your Son know what his father's job role is. £120 a month isn't much at all. I was expecting you to say you get £250 per month!

RING CMS.

They do give a discount for children he lives with but it’s a very very small discount.

£30 is a terrible amount.

£41.69 is what CMS tells me based on 35 hours at min wage, paid weekly - even allowing for her 2 children.

still an increase of 30% on what he is currently paying

and we don't know if he is on min wage and I don't know if it's 35 hours a week he works.

I did factor the 2 kids in when I did the calc.

I'm glad you've messaged him and are planning to go to CMS if he doesn't come up with a decent increase.

For the CMS calculation to be less than £30 a week he would need to be on £13k per year, maximum, based on overnights you have stated, no other children, etc. You should be getting more. And no, he should fund his time with the DC. He is absolutely taking the piss.

Well as expected no response so far….

You don't have to feel nor express any gratitude for he is legally required to pay for your joint child.
I get £11 a month for twins DC via CMS and I don't consider you 'lucky' because you get more than me. Both our exes are piss taking cunts.

@Crazycatlady79 absolutely agree with you!