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Hi, Hopefully someone can offer some advice.
I've got a (recently turned) 16 year old daughter with my ex, who I have been paying maintenance for since I split up with the ex 14 years ago. For the last ten years, this has been through a documented voluntary/family based arrangement. I've always paid £300.00 a month despite this being higher than the CSA calculated amount based on income etc. We also had set access arrangements which were agreed and honoured come rain or shine.
Before my daughter turned 16 I had a conversation with the ex about me paying half of the money to my ex and half direct to my daughter after her 16h birthday, this was really just an attempt to instil some independence in my daughter, and the overall amount I have paid has not changed.
Since her birthday (just over six weeks ago), I have barely seen my daughter - which I had begrudgingly assumed to be nothing more than a teenage wanting to spend the summer holidays with her friends etc. I have though, now received a letter from the CMS telling me my ex has submitted a claim for child maintenance, effective 02 September 2015 and that the amount is going up. I have 2 more children now, and my income hasn't notably changed in the last ten years so I'm surprised that the CMS would want to intervene in a case where there is a long standing arrangement that has only really changed in how it is paid.
I guess what I want to know is whether I have been wrong in the first place in wanting to some of the money I pay to go straight to my 16 year old daughter, and what I am supposed to do now.
I don't think the amount on the letter is right (I've used the online calculator, and it looks like I should be paying only around £200-£230 per month), so I don't really understand how anyone is benefiting by tearing up something we'd agreed on.
Sorry - I know this is all a bit waffly, but I'm sure some of you must have dealt with similar before - I can only assume my ex thinks she is going to get more money this way, and my real concern is keeping my relationship with my daughter going (although I now suspect that the recent poor contact is somehow connected). If anyone has experienced similar I'd love to hear from them.
Thank you
Hi there
I don't think you were wrong to want some of the maintenance you pay to go to your daughter, but I guess your ex feels differently.
Child Maintenance covers all aspects of looking after a child, putting a roof over their heads , paying houeshold bills and providing clothes and the extras that a teenager considers are essential... a mobile phone being one such "necessity." All of this comes at a price. For the last 10 years, as you say, this has been a regular payment and so formed a substantial part of her outgoings and factored into it. Perhaps sufddenly removing £150 a month has had an Impact on your exs ability to manage her finances. I'm not defending her, just trying to understand what the dynamics are.
If you don't think that the figure the CMS has arrived at you should take it up with them asap. Have you spoken to your ex about her decision, that might be a good first step.
As far as the break in contact with your daughter, again next time you see her maybe try and talk about what has happened to cause her to back away from you, there could be any number of reasons so it's better to get it out in the open.
Good luck
Hello CJ1979
Either parent can make an application to the Child Maintenance Service at any point. With you having a case with the Child Maintenance Service you would need to contact them directly to discuss your concerns regarding the amount you pay. You will find their details on any letters they have sent you or on Gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/child-maintenance.
The Child Maintenance Service works out child maintenance using the paying parent's gross income, which is income before Income Tax and National Insurance are taken off, but after occupational or personal pension scheme contributions are taken away. In most cases this gross income figure comes from information given to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) by the paying parent, their employer or a third-party such as an accountant. The following link provides further information on how the Child Maintenance Service calculates child maintenance that you may find useful, https://www.gov.uk/how-child-maintenance-is-worked-out/how-the-child-maintenance-service-works-out-child-maintenance.
For more information on all the different ways to set up child maintenance and for a more personalised service, you can visit the Child Maintenance Options website at http://www.cmoptions.org.
The DWP have a sorting out separation web-app that you may find useful. It offers help and support to separating and separated families. The link is: www.dad.info/divorce-and-separation/sorting-out-separation.
Regards
William
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