Is a new partner effectively expected to pay for his/ her partners kids
No. The amount of maintenance is based entirely on the parent's earnings. Their new partner's earnings don't come into it.
So a new partner has her wages paid into her account. He is paid cash in hand and squirrels it away or more likely blows is on alcohol and consumables. He is assessed as owing £50 a week. CMS can now dip into the ‘joint account’ and take £50 of her wages. Even though he hasn’t actually paid a penny into the account.
The issue with this idea is that it will affect (mostly) women who are probably trying to support there own children. The sort of men who evade CM are rarely reasonable, reasoned individuals. They are almost always controlling manipulators. Most women who are happy to have a relationship with someone who is willing to avoid there responsibilities, have fairly low self esteem and are ideal candidates to be manipulated.
I see a very real situation developing where new partner does a part time job around her kids. Earns 4-500 a month and gets paid into her account. New partner is feckless with money, doesn’t pay CM as it’s ‘his money’ doesn’t give her much because ‘they aren’t his kids’ . Probably pays the rent but that’s about it. She buys the food and muddles through with the bills. He often runs out of money and persuaded her to make him a joint account holder.
Now the CMS is going to be able to remove £200 a month for his kids.
Don’t see this as being a long term solution. One month in, he will remove his name from the account and it will all go back to as it was before.
The only sure fire way to do this is to set a basic NRP rate. For everyone physically and mentally capable of working. (Wether they do or not. ) Say £150 a month per child. That should be a minimum. So it’s known. It becomes a ‘thing’ that all people know. ‘If I have a child it’s going to cost me a MINIMUM of £150 per month for 18 yrs. REGARDLESS of wether I live with them.’ This May help encourage men to use a condom if they don’t want children. If knowing the consequences WILL cost, it might focus the mind more.
If you are a parent then that’s what you owe. If you don’t The clock doesn’t stop if you lose your job, (so no point in avoiding work) , kids don’t stop ‘costing’ when unemployment hits. You have to earn that. Got three kids ? Better get a shift in the local supermarket if your monthly wage isn’t sufficient for your life style. No excuses except illness. If you don’t pay and deduction on earnings don’t work, then you lose your driving licence/ get your car impounded and sold to pay arrears/, have your passport suspended so you can’t go on holiday until it’s paid. Use your car for your self employed work ? Should have paid for your children then. You’ll have to get another job.
The cost never stops mounting. Just like real life, children’s costs never get suspended. All in all it’s your responsibility (NRP) to make sure you’ve paid it. Giving endless ‘chances’ is where the whole thing falls apart.
Until the state/govt start getting serious about this issue, it will never get better.
Oh - and first children come first. I’m a step parent but I didn’t have children with my second husband because we couldn’t afford to pay for his, mine and more. Don’t whine that ‘it’s not fair’ ‘ I don’t have any kids - I’m entitled ‘ yes you are, but not with a man who hasn’t paid for the first ones. Find a more reliable responsible father for your children or accept his children’s costs are a priority debt BEFORE you consider having more and accept your family income starts at an amount where CM is paid. No discount for children in the household.