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I am trying to work out a fair family based arrangement for my wife and three children. I have left the family home and relying on a friend's charity for somewhere to stay (this is not sustainable). I have been the main financial contributor to the household, although my wife does work part time now. I used the calculator to work out what I should be paying through the child maintenance calculator and it has only confused me further. I pay for the mortgage repayments and household bills, which roughly takes up 50% of my net salary. Now if I use the calculator to work out what I need to pay for in terms of clothes, food etc... It seems I will have to pay another third of my net salary, leaving me with a third to pay for accommodation (one room) and food. The accommodation alone will cost the third left so have I got this wrong?
It would be great to get an idea of what is reasonable to pay for and not. My wife (as it was my choice to leave) is continuing to live life as if I had no other outgoings which is starting to put me into financial difficulties.
Thanks in advance for any advice you can provide or ideas where I can get such advice.
Hi there
As far as I'm aware, you're no longer responsible for the household bills, but as far as the mortgage is concerned, you may have to think about selling if you can't afford to keep up the repayments...you could have a word with your mortgage provider aboutyour options, they may agree to interest only payments in the short term, until things can get settled.
Some solicitors offer a free initial consultation which you may find useful and also the Citizens Advice Bureau can offer advice.
All the best
Hello Willow7
If you have your own family-based arrangement in place, there are no set rules to follow with regards to how much is paid. It is up to the two of you to decide.
The Online calculator on our website, http://www.cmoptions.org, will give you an indication of the amount that the Government would consider reasonable for you to pay.
If you had a statutory arrangement, the Child Maintenance Service would calculate an amount for you to pay based on your gross, taxable income. You would not be expected to pay anything more on top of that amount, unless of course you have a legal responsibility to pay the mortgage.
You can view detailed information about how the Child Maintenance Service calculate payments here, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/325219/how-we-work-out-child-maintenance.pdf
If you would like some further information about the options available to you and to receive a more personalised service, you can contact Child Maintenance Options directly.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have a website, ‘Sorting out separation’. It aims to make it much easier for separating and separated parents (and childless couples) to find the support they need, when and where they need it, and encourages them to collaborate on a range of issues. The link is https://www.sortingoutseparation.org.uk/
Regards
William
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