PLEASE JOIN THIS THREAD IF YOU ARE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION.
Hello all,
I broke up with my ex-partner a year ago. During that time, I have been trying to get proper maintenance payments for my children aged 2 and 4. This is proving to be a difficult task. I was never married but co-habited with my ex. He has his own company and draws a salary. He states that his income is lower than it actually is.
I believe that the CSA is not equipped to deal with higher income families, especially where the non resident parent has his/her own business or is self-employed. In my case, we also lost our home and most of our belongings (my ex stayed in the family home). There appears to be no allowance for replacing these things.
I disagree with maintenance being set as a standard 20% of the non resident parent's salary which decreases the more often the children stay over at the non-resident parent's house. The resident parent by default ends up forking out for uniform, clothes, classes, school trips, etc. It is easy for the non-resident parent to avoid sharing costs on these. So therefore taking a further percentage off what is already a low contribution (20%) is fundamentally flawed. Surely, it should be based on what the children actually cost? And then the higher earning parent should pay a higher percentage of these costs? That would be fairer don't you agree?
Why aren't individual circumstances taken into account?
My children are very young and I was the one who sacrificed career to bring them up taking a significant pay cut. My ex was the main bread winner. Why is this not taken into account? My ex earned 90% of the family income to support our children whilst I stayed home to look after them. Why, therefore, when he chooses no longer to be with us, should I suddenly have to pay the vast majority of their costs when I am not set up to do this? In the past year, I have returned to work part time but child care fees are paid for solely by me, with no input from my ex. Why does the CSA not insist that these costs are shared at the very least equally?
As it is, the children and I can not afford our own home and live with my mother, whilst my ex enjoys a wealthy lifestyle. The CSA are implicit in spreading child poverty whilst they cannot bring self-employed/higher income non resident parents to task.
PLEASE JOIN THIS THREAD. I will not accept the above and I intend to take our plight further. The rules governing child maintenance can and must be changed.
In numbers, we can do this. Even if you don't want to share your story, please just add that you are in by adding "I'm in" to this thread. I will then keep you updated and ask for support where necessary. First stop is my local MP.
Many thanks,