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HI, my husband pays his ex wife who works full time maintainance for the children each month through the CSA even though they have joint custody and the boys spend as much time here as they do with their mum. While they are with us we pay for any clothes, school trips and other expenses so its not a case of the money covering those sort of things. My husband says its because she has the child benefit and he is classed as the absent parent...is this correct?? Both boys have said they want to spend more time with us.....if this is the rule , does it still apply if the boys spending more time with us. thanks.
Hi kali and welcome 🙂
Your husband is right, as the non resident parent he is liable for maintenance. It might be helpful for you to folow the link to Child Maintenance Options which is at the bottom of the page. On the website you will find a maintenance calculator situated on the right hand side, all you need to do is answer a few questions about salary and number of children and it will give you the approx amount your husband should be paying.
If you have the children overnight then your husband is entitled to a reduction on what he pays... for instance ~
If the children stay overnight once a week payments are reduced by 1/7th, for two nights per week its reduced by 2/7th, three nights is 3/7ths etc. If you are having the children for 4 or more nights a week then I would certainly consider contacting CSA and discussing this with them. There could be a right to have the child benefit paid to you instead if you are having the children for the majority of time.
...Oops! I cant see the link to Child Maintenance Options now so you or your husband can google CSA calculator and you'll be able to find out what you're supposed to pay.
My children are 16 and 18 at what age does the csa stop taking payments off me. They take it straight from my salary
It's just been increased to age 20 - basically, if your ex is getting child benefit for them, then you have to pay for as long as the benefit is paid.
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