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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

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Original poster

Is this a reasonable amount of maintenance?

25 replies

Janos · 28/01/2006 12:18

Pretty basic question. My XP earns about £30K a year and gives me £200 a month. Please don't think I am 'showing off' because I'm very well aware that there are lots of mums on here who don't even get a penny from their Ex's. I honestly just want to know if people think this is fair.

I work part term and earn just over £1000 a month. With tax credits and child benefit this goes up to £1500. I know this sounds a lot but out of this I have to pay rent, bills and nursery fees which comes to just over £1400. Do you think it's wrong to ask for more? XP thinks he is paying a reasonable amount.

OP posts:

mistressmiggins · 28/01/2006 12:40

depending on how many children, 15% of NET salary for 1, 20% for 2 children etc

plus you could argue for spousal maintenance

Original poster

Janos · 28/01/2006 13:02

Thanks for taking the time to answer mistressmiggins. I really don't want to involve the CSA because of all the nastiness that will involve!

OP posts:

schnapps · 28/01/2006 13:05

but you could use their figures as a guidline

Distel · 28/01/2006 13:08

My dh earns about 17,000 and pays ex wife nearly £60 a week for 2 children, so £240 a month.

Original poster

Janos · 28/01/2006 13:23

Thanks everyone. XP has actually been headhunted and his salary is going to go up to nearly £50K so is it being reasonable of me to expect more? I know this must sound a ridiculous amount of money to some people who will be thinkg WTF is she complaining for but I really do need it to live off.

OP posts:

lrkids · 28/01/2006 13:28

I know someone who earns around 39k and has one child with them they pay around 300 a month for one child who doesn't live with them. The CSA website has a calcuator on it (and doesn't take any personal details)if u know the details for him, work it out and print a copy if u can to show him then ask for more with proof that he should be. HTH

mistressmiggins · 28/01/2006 13:30

the way I see it is that your ex is going to be earning more so why shouldnt you have a little extra for you child(ren)?

thats the way to play it

my solicitor told me that the courts/law like both husband & wife to have similar standard of living

also, you having the children enables your exp to earn more cos can concentrate soley on his job

Original poster

Janos · 28/01/2006 13:42

mistressmiggins, we do try to share care as much as possible, which we can only manage because we still live quite close together. We only have one child - our DS is 14 months.

OP posts:

7777777 · 30/01/2006 21:44

perhaps as he shares the care he feels his money is enough then. does he have her for half the week every week, so reducing your household bills

Caligula · 30/01/2006 21:47

Of course he should give you more if his earnings go up. That's not unreasonable.

As far as the CSA goes, I'd keep them out, you're more likely to end up with nothing. That's what most of their clients get!

Aimsmum · 30/01/2006 21:50

Message withdrawn

Caroline5 · 30/01/2006 21:59

I think your exP should be giving you a little bit more now (using CSA calculation) - and certainly when he starts earning more. It seems only fair. (Unfortunately my ex is unemployed so pays nothing, I earn a similar amount to you -ex is about to start a 3 year course and is not likely to earn more than minimum wage rates for that time - aagh!!)

airbabe · 30/01/2006 22:40

my exp is on over 50k and only pays 200 a month for our daughter and that is grudgingly tried to get csa involved and it turned really nasty we werent married so dont know how to go about getting him to increase payments

rickman · 30/01/2006 22:45

Message withdrawn

charliecat · 30/01/2006 22:47

Is he on the dole rickman?

rickman · 30/01/2006 22:59

Message withdrawn

airbabe · 30/01/2006 23:00

arnt they all!

Original poster

Janos · 31/01/2006 17:16

God rickman how awful! That is bl**dy unbelievable.

You must think I'm a moany old witch!

OP posts:

Cranberry · 31/01/2006 17:20

All solicitors and courts now use(so I've been told) the CSA formula so I'd go with what ever that says.

Caligula · 31/01/2006 19:56

Funny that Rickman. My ex has to pay me £20 per month for 2 kids. Funny that 4 cost the same as 2, isn't it?

Caligula · 31/01/2006 19:56

(Not that he manages to pay even that)

Original poster

Janos · 31/01/2006 20:25

How on earth can that be considered a reasonable amount to pay!!

OP posts:

spursmum · 31/01/2006 20:27

I get nothing because the CSA can't be a*sed to find the X and get him to cough up.

amanda1 · 02/02/2006 08:38

Message withdrawn

Bozza · 02/02/2006 09:12

Janos I definitely think in your circumstances you should be getting a bit more. You say that out of your own money (salary plus benefits) you have £100 a month and your XP gives you £200. So to me £300 a month doesn't seem like that much for food, clothes, holidays, days out, presents, replacing the washing machine etc for 2. And once his salary goes up that should definitely be the case.

As for Rickman's XP.........

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