Child Maintenance - CSA worth the hassle?

[CaramelLatte96]

After a bit of advice from anyone who has gone down the CSA route.

Ex-P has just increased his contribution from to £30 a week towards DS (4). He earns at least 30k a year and has DS for 6 nights over a month period.

I feel this is probably very little and my partner gets really frustrated as he feels that Ex-P does so little for his own son. Ex-P was a huge gambling addict and has been seen by myself and my family leaving betting shops still regularly so I know money really isn’t in short supply as he suggests! P takes DS for haircuts, to clubs, buys his clothes, paid half towards private speech and language (I paid the other half, ex-p couldn’t afford a contribution), trainers etc and is a fantastic step dad. He says I should go to the CSA to get a fair payment but I’m just not sure it’s worth the hassle?

The extra money wouldn’t make a huge difference to our lives but in a savings pot for DS, he could amass a great start for when he is 18.

Of course you should use the child maintenance service. Otherwise your ex gets to gamble away money that would be useful to your DS

You should absolutely go through CMS. Look at it as your son's money if it doesn't make a difference to your daily lives. Dad got to check out of being there for him on a daily basis. He doesn't get to check out of financially supporting him to an 'appropriate' level because even with CMS, the percentage is shit

Thank you! I hope that didn’t come across in a condescending way. We are far from affluent, just sensible!

It's worth it to feel justified but it still won't be very much I'm afraid. But yes definitely do it. Why let him off?

100% you should go for that money. That is your sons money and should be non negotiable. My sisters piece of shit ex literally quit his job the day the csa caught up with him, the baby was only a few months old. His dad (the ex) would literally go without money for himself than have to contribute a little bit towards his son. He was forced to pay the £5 odd a week or whatever it was at the time out of his benefits, which he is still on 15 years later. For all these years my sister has religiously put every single penny in a bank account for her son who has just done his GCSEs, and I believe there’s now about 6k sitting in there. Don’t underestimate the next 18 years of ‘not much’ csa adding up

Have you done an online calculator to see what he should be paying?

I was bored so I did it for you. This is based only on his income and not including any benefits or other money he is receiving. Child support for one child that he has 6 times a month

Thank you so much! And thank you all for being so supportive. I’m going to do my research tomorrow!

Is he in employment as opposed to being self employed? They eventually went through collect and pay for my ex bt deducting the money directly from his wages.

If he is self employed then it is a lot easier for men to dodge payments.

Not at all! It's nice to not have to rely on that money to make ends meet - I know that from experience