CSA reduced

[Creamte]

CSA have been in touch to say the payments are reducing to £60 a month from my ex partner from £150 can he do this? We split nearly 2 years ago and have 1x DD 50/50 but ultimately he chose to leave the family home.

He’s shacked up with somebody else, why shouldn’t he still pay £150 a month? AIBU?

It can reduce if he's now living with other children, does his new partner have kids?

Also, i thought no CSA was due if it's 50/50?

It doesn't really matter that he left the family home as the payment is not to punish him but provide for his kids. If you have her 50/50 I'm surprised he has to pay at all. Has he had a change in financial circumstances?

She doesn’t have kids and there’s been no change as far as I’m aware.

Either he’s had an income drop of over 25%, the person he’s moved in with has a child living there too, or he’s indicated to the CMS he does more shared care than before (more nights).

If it's 50/50 he shouldn't be paying anything at all.

Why are you getting anything at all though if it’s 50:50? Do the CSA know that this is the arrangement?

I’m happy to be corrected but thought that 50:50 meant that neither parent pays anything to the other.

ultimately he chose to leave the family home.

This has no bearing on anything when it comes to maintenance. As PP have said, 50/50 is usually zero.

He’s been to the CSA and this is what they suggested apparently. I’ve just used to online calculator and that’s what it comes up as, we do 4 nights each one week and 3 the next.

You can run your situation/his salary through the CMS calculator online

So in effect he has been paying you money all this time when he did not need to.

I am in Ireland so it is very (thankfully) different here but the 50/50 laws in the uk state no maintenance is to be paid if this is the arrangement.

Then I'd be happy with any money you get as you shouldn't be getting anything sounds like they've advised him wrongly.

I thought 50 50 meant no csa. My sis and her ex do this, they deliberately got two houses not that far from each other to maintain easy access to school for the kids, and split time equally. He has his stepson full time in his house in addition to the girls half time, but no csa due to the equal split of their joint kids. Seems to work fine.

I guess it helps that my sis was the much higher earner so was just happy that the kids were happy.

Neither of you is the absent parent so no maintenance is payable. Be thankful he's paying you something. I presume you're also getting all the child benefit and associated (if appropriate) benefits for the children?

It's CMS now, not CSA.

It sounds like he has been paying when he didnt need to and has just spoken to them to bring it to the correct amount.

Dont know why he has to pay anything if it is 50/50. How would you feel if he opened a case against you and wanted you to pay? It's the exact same.

How odd I agree with the other shouldn’t be paying anyway on 50/50,
maybe he has had another child?

He doesn’t have any other kids.

It was CSA when we arranged it hence the terminology.

I do get the child benefit, we earn around the same salary, pennies difference.

He walked out and has now made a new life playing happy families with our daughter and his new girlfriend, I still believe he should be paying more.

The money is for the kids, it isn't a punishment or a happiness penalty.
You have 50:50 care of the children, earn the same money and you get the child benefit, there is absolutely no reason why he should be paying you anything, count yourself lucky.

Well then yabu not to call Cm yourself and find out why but I suspect you don’t want to do that as you know it will be stopped if you do given 50/50 means no maintenance

But as others have told you, your belief seems to be wrong; he shouldn’t be paying you anything as you are sharing custody 50:50.

Where are you getting your numbers from?

The fact he has moved on in life is no concern of yours. He is now paying you money for no reason. Be thankful.

friends/family have told me they get more and we’re in a similar situation.

It sounds as though he’s been had over a bit here. Maybe it’s time to let him claim the child benefit for a bit and for you to pay him some child maintenance, to even things out.

As mentioned, If it’s 50/50 you’re not actually entitled to anything.

I don’t believe that. If they too have 50:50 custody and similar wages then they too should not be receiving anything.

Hopefully your ex will réalisé there’s something up here and stop subsidising you.