Maintenance - does it cover childcare costs?

[sadmumoftwo]

So, I'm preparing for the worst. It hasnt happened yet, but we are on that path.

I think H and I could come to an amicable agreement on maintenance. I think. But I need to get my head around it all. We have two young DC's, one at school, the other nursery. Both attend childcare on the days I work.(I work 3.5 days) H's net pay is about two and a half times mine.

This is day one of me thinking about this stuff - so bear with me I'm new to it all!

He wants to keep the house for now, and find a rental for him. I'm happy to split the mortgage and pay the rest of the household bills. I want to make it as simple as possible if we eventually sell. I think I can cope with the outgoings if I get working tax credits and childcare credits. (currently get neither due to his income)

I'd be the main carer (we havent really discussed how much care he'd do yet)
In terms of maintenance, I had a look on the csoptions website to help me figure it out, and it doesnt mention childcare costs.

Before I looked at that, I would have said we more or less split it (childcare) down the middle but having seen the amount it suggests, I think it must cover childcare costs too. (These total about £800 pm) This would make sense if I'm claiming child tax credits and childbenefit- I pay the childcare and he pays me maintenance to cover (half) of it? Plus extra for food/clothing/extras.

If anyone can help clarify it that would really be useful, thank you. I dont want to bleed him dry - thats not my intention. I just want to be fair, but on the otherhand, I dont want to be struggling in my attempts to not be money-grabbing!

I don't know if this is any help but I've found an online Child Maintenance Calculator that might give you some pointers.

CSA would say 20% of his earnings and dont take into account the mortgage or childcare.

I think you are being slightly greedy by expecting half the mortgage, half the childcare plus extra for food/clothing. He will need to rent elsewhere and I assume you arent offering to pay half his rent as he will need a place for the children to stay.

Thanks Cogito - thats similar to the one I used already and that's where my confusion started.

Happymum I see what your saying, but if he wants to keep the house I don't see any other option. I certainly can't afford to pay more than half. Since he doesn't want to put it on the market (I'm not sure what it he wants to keep it for but I'll be discussing that), then he's going to have to pay for it. I'd be 'happy' to sell and move somewhere smaller, but he wants the kids to stay in this house. He knows he can't deal with being the main carer, so it has to be me staying in it with them. If he doesn't want to stay in it with them (us) I can't do much about it. (He has said he'd pay half, so this really isn't what I'm asking about)

So if we just say he puts forward 20% of his earnings for maintenance - are you saying this is for everything including childcare? That's what I wanted to know really.

If you work more than 16 hours a week & get working tax credits you will have 70% of childcare costs paid for anyway.

Two kids should mean he has to contribute 20% of his income. AFAIK he can give more if he wants to though.

My XP contributes that much but it doesn't cover the whole of childcare. The maintenance money just goes into the bank and is used for everything.

It's up to you how you spend the maintenance.

The CSA amounts are a blanket amount for everything, so yes, his 20% would cover childcare. It's up to you how to spend the 20% if you go the CSA route.

Remember that it will get reduced depending on how much time the DC soend with him. XH and I calculate his maintenance on a monthly basis as due to my work patterns he will look after them more some months. I know the CSA website looks at it for a whole year but we find it easier calculating for each month. Am lucky in that he is "happy" to pay (well not ecstatic but at least there are no battles over payment).

I don't know how much you earn but you may get some tax credits - which again if you are below a certain income can also include some money for child care

www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/childcare-costs

It doesn't take childcare in to account no and I feel that unless you are getting support for this with the 70% Tax credits it is something that should be covered. I can't beleive that the RP has to cover this. I didn't get tax credits when I was a single mum as I earned a little over ther threshold. My ex gave me £200 a month in line with CSA. My childcare was £800!

In the end I managed to appeal to his reaosnable side and got him to pay half, plus CM. In my mind, CM is for the maintencae of the child for the time you have them and your ex isn't there. You and he should be equally responsible for the cost of the child. If you both work you should both pay for the child's care while you're at work.

But no the law doesn't think like that. I presume it's because us women don't really have to work do we, we just do it for fun/ selfishness really If we choose to shirk our responsibilities and not look after our children then we should be responsible for paying for their care

Surely if you have shared residency you would split childcare costs, unless you are receiving tax credits for them? My friend has his son 3 night's a week, so he is responsible for childcare on those days, his ex-wife is responsible for paying it the rest of the week.

I am probably a bit unusual as I work irregularly but I always see childcare costs for when I'm working for me to pay. And if XH is looking after them when I work then I would pay the childcarw.helps that DC are at school so its only before and after school care and not too often. But wirhout his help I wouldn't be able to do the work where I go away and so I feel its fair for Mw to pay the childcare costs that mean he can also work (and pay the CM)

I don't get tax credits to help with childcare as my annual childcare doesn't cost enough so I am in an ok position.