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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

Child maintenance

20 replies

singlemum203 · 26/01/2022 15:48

I have tried looking online but can't find the answer. I'm trying to figure out what amount of child maintenance my ex should pay. He is on £70,000 a year and has 2 other children who he pays £1000 per month for (which was part of his and his ex wife's divorce settlement/agreement)

He is currently paying me £200 for my son, I'm not trying to get more or less just understand where it sits in terms of legally what he should pay. To me, that is more than enough to help pay for things for my son at his age.

OP posts:

Glitterygreen · 26/01/2022 15:49

You should be able to put in his income and what he pays for other children on the government website, and it will tell you?

£200 doesn't seem a lot for someone on £70k but I guess it could be impacted by what he pays for his older kids.

SomeOwlsCoo · 26/01/2022 15:53

I don't know if the £1000 being part of a divorce settlement makes a difference.
But (based on him having no overnights) the CMS calculator says he should be paying his ex wife £673 and you £336

Obviously this would reduce if he has overnights.

Original poster

singlemum203 · 26/01/2022 19:42

Yes he wanted to pay more to his ex wife. He was happy to give them £1000 per month.
Can someone direct me to this website then

OP posts:

Original poster

singlemum203 · 26/01/2022 19:43

Sorry that was meant to say please. Thank you

OP posts:

Aimee1987 · 26/01/2022 19:44

www.gov.uk/calculate-child-maintenance

Sinusheadachesahhhh · 26/01/2022 19:45

@singlemum203

www.gov.uk/calculate-child-maintenance

ChoiceMummy · 26/01/2022 19:59

@singlemum203

Yes he wanted to pay more to his ex wife. He was happy to give them £1000 per month. Can someone direct me to this website then

He should be paying a minimum of £475, for your son per month.

He's underpaying extensively and this needs addressing.

Original poster

singlemum203 · 26/01/2022 23:05

@ChoiceMummy I'm just wondering how you worked this out?
I have used the calculator but it doesn't take in to account the £1000 per month he pays for his other two.
I can't find a calculator online that will work jr out using that too

OP posts:

Original poster

singlemum203 · 26/01/2022 23:06

He does earn more than me massively, I am on £25,000 per year.

OP posts:

Original poster

singlemum203 · 26/01/2022 23:07

But I don't think that matters in terms of child maintenance?
Sorry, for all the posts. It's just I expected us to be together and this is my first child so have no experience/knowledge really on child maintenance payments and what is normal

OP posts:

Original poster

singlemum203 · 26/01/2022 23:09

Our son stay at his one night every 2 weeks as he is still too young to do more. And I don't think my ex has built up enough of a relationship with him/bonded/seen him enough. Which has all been his own choice. I have not stopped anything

OP posts:

SomeOwlsCoo · 26/01/2022 23:13

@singlemum203 use the cms calculator linked up-thread but fill it in as the "paying parent" and then use his details. That way you can do it with 2 receiving parents.

HerRoyalNotness · 26/01/2022 23:17

I’d you use the calculator linked you can be the ‘paying parent’ and it now has questions for how many parents and children you’re paying. No it doesn’t let you out in the 1k amount but it gives you an idea.

I put in 70k, having the other 2 52-103 nights and your D.C. less than 52 nights and it came out at:

First 2 577
Your D.C. 337

Tbh if he’s paying 1k for 2, I’d ask for 500 for yours.

MrsBertBibby · 26/01/2022 23:20

The £1000 is irrelevant.

He will be assessed on his gross annual income, less pension contributions.

As he is paying for multiple children, it is worked out as 19% of the first £800 per week, plus 15% of income over £800 per week. Then that total amount is divided between the kids, so you would get 1/3.

If his older kids aren't on a CMS assessment, you might get awarded the amount for 1 child (12% and 9%) unless he gets assessed for the others too.

Original poster

singlemum203 · 26/01/2022 23:28

Ok, thanks for your help everyone.
I didn't think to use the calculator as the paying parent.
Tbf this post came about as we had an argument and he kind of insinuated he was doing me a favour with the maintenance and just wanted to know if this was true or not

OP posts:

RandomMess · 26/01/2022 23:30

Please ring up CMS and start a claim tomorrow as they will not back date it.

Doesn't seem like he is going to pay you the legal minimum he should willingly.

Original poster

singlemum203 · 26/01/2022 23:34

I'm just a bit scared to rock the boat. He is arguing he hasn't got enough free time with the access I have suggested. I would like him to have a close relationship with our son and he does with his other two, and he's said he still wants to be involved etc, but the access he wants vs the free time he had doesn't suggest that. Hence the argument. He is much smarter than me in terms of all this legal stuff and numbers etc and I just a bit worried what the outcome would be if I said I wanted to go down this route

OP posts:

RandomMess · 26/01/2022 23:36

Contact and maintenance are separate.

If he wants to see his DC he will, if he doesn't want to be won't and will make up every excuse under the sun as to why it isn't his fault.

Please don't accept less than the minimum for your son.

unicornsarereal72 · 27/01/2022 09:15

Just go through CMS. He will kick up a stink because he doesn't want to be told what to pay. You have years of this a head of you Standard response is we couldn't agree what's fair so let's leave it in their hands. And don't engage any further

I have and ex who is clever with his words. So I just don't engage. Money through Cms. Not that I get any. Contact eow. And I have nothing else to do with him.

What he pays for his older kids is up to him

What you earn isn't relevant.

Contact is a separate thing. And you can't make any parent step up they will do there own sweet things. And even if he saw your son more would it be any more meaningful?

cherryonthecakes · 27/01/2022 10:04

You basically need to use the CMS calculator to see the minimum he should be paying.

You'd get 1/3 of that and the other ex would get 2/3 because you have one child and she has two.

Dads can pay more than the CMS figure to an ex but he still owes the other ex at least the CMS figure if you see what I mean.

I've not used the calculator so I've made up the numbers but say he should be paying you 300 and his other ex 600. He can pay you 300 and her 1000 if he wants but he can't pay you 200 because he's paying her 1000. You are owed at least 300.

It's easier to go through CMS - you can say you don't understand the system so want it to be fair on everyone.

You need to let the contact issue go. You can't force him to see your son and you need to let go of the fact that he makes lots of effort with his other children. I know it's not fair but it's his choice and if you can accept this then it will be one less argument to have with him

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