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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

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Original poster

Maintenance question - any help gratefully recd

9 replies

sven · 22/02/2004 15:29

My soon to be ex DH currently pays around £400 pm in maintenance. He is moving in with a new DP and her 2 children and threatening to reduce payment to me. Can he do this? I thought that any reduction in maintenance could only happen if they were his children and not children from another relationship? Can anyone clear this up - desperate to know and can't wait until CSA phone lines open tomorrow am.

OP posts:

marialuisa · 22/02/2004 16:17

I thought they would only reduce maintenance payments if he had new "birth" children with his new DP. Presumably she is getting maintenance for her kids from her ex-DP. could be complicated if she's not getting maintenance though. Sorry, not much help.

kaz33 · 22/02/2004 16:20

Have you tried the CSA website?

I looked at the same question for another mumsnetter and the way I read the wording - it did not matter whose children they were. But not totally clear. You will have to speak to CSA tommorow.

Good luck

Original poster

sven · 22/02/2004 16:40

Thanks for your help - have looked on CSA site and they use the phrase 'relevant children' so it's not really clear - will call CSA tomorrow - really wanted to find out today tho - never mind.

OP posts:

BeckiF · 23/02/2004 09:25

Hi - according to the CSA rules that I think still apply, the absent parent usually has to pay 10% for the first child, 15% for two children and 25% for three children. It used to be that the CSA didn't give much care for the new family, hence all the hassle. My suggestion is to keep it as amicable as possible. If you are not happy you can always apply for a 'departure'. This means that they will look at your case again if you feel he should pay more. They will make a living allowance based on his circumstances but I was disgusted when in our case theytold us they don't take into account your actual living expenses, it is based on the norm! Also, they wanted some of MY money to pay for HIS children!!! NO WAY!!!

Sadly I am a female who's dp has an evil ex so I am quite up to speed with the hassle, heartache and somewhat ridiculous workings of the CSA.

aloha · 23/02/2004 09:46

BeckiF- no, that's not right, they don't use your income to pay to the other family. Your income is totally separate. My dh pays to support his daughter from a previous relationship and I don't even tell the CSA how much I earn, so I know that's not true.

norma · 23/02/2004 09:56

They cannot directly 'take' your wages, no. But indirectly they take all 'your' income into account when deciding how much housing costs to allow your dh/dp when working out how much maintenance he should pay. For example I work part-time and my dh works full time. If I had refused to give my wage details to the csa they would have assumed that I could afford to pay half of my dh's housing costs.His ex knows that I work so I had to comply and give details of my earnings. They have now worked it out proportionately so that he is only allowed to have two thirds of his housing costs taken into account when they work out how much maintenance he must pay.The csa refuse to take into account the fact that I pay almost a half of my income for childcare in order that I may work in the first place, and count my take home wage as disposable income. So, yes, I agree that my children are compromised by the csa's unfair stance, and that they DO - albeit indirectly - take my wages.

Twinkie · 23/02/2004 10:03

I've applied to the CSA and they did not ask what I earn, I hope to god they don't take my wages into account - and what has that got to do with how much he pays anyway??

norma · 23/02/2004 10:10

Twinkie, if you are receiving wftc then they will not be interested in what you earn in that your ex will be required to pay the max. support he can depending on his wages.And you will receive his maintenance in addition to your wftc. If you earn too much to be eligible for wftc then they will work out how much maintenance is needed for the children you have got and take BOTH of your incomes into account when deciding how much your ex should pay.

BeckiF · 23/02/2004 11:01

Just read through my mountain of forms and booklets from the CSA and I do believe that new legislation states that they will not take into account anymore the financial position of new partners. For instance, dp evil ex's NEW husband has stashed an enormous amount of money and she still chases dp for more monies. DP refused to give my info to the CSA and so they made a general assumption that they use.

In short the CSA are homebreakers and relationshoip breakers. They always come down on the mothers side and have little concern for the new relationship. I have seen the most amicable of splits turn into a raging war due to the CSA. And worse, and this is our case, the resident parent will tell the children that their dad doesn't and never did love them and he proves it because he won't pay more money toward their upkeep. This is despite the valuation being made by the CSA and not him. It really can be, and usually is, a total minefield.

Just to change subjects, what support is in place for fathers?? Nil. Zero, None. I know this because in the 6 years my dp has tried to re-stablish his access he has been hit time and time again by solicitors etc. etc., and although we have looked and searched there is no-one to offer help and support to him Rant over and sorry for it!

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