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Hi there,
Newbie poster so apologies if this has been covered before, please point me in the right direction if so!!
I currently pay my ex over the odds according to the CMS calculator tool which isn't necessarily an issue but I am after advice on what these payments should cover. "Brief" overview of situation:
- I have the kids overnight on a Tuesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday on week one then a Thursday on week 2. The Tuesdays are a new thing as she couldn't cope with the eight days in between nights off when I only have them on a ThursdayWhen I told my ex that should mean a massive reduction in payments as it pushes me into the 2-3 nights p/w category she said that Fridays weren't essential.More on this later...
On top of this, I have to go round on a Monday and Tuesday Morning even if I haven't had the overnight as she works funny hours and has to leave before school run. She also works Saturdays and when I suggested she needs to make alternative arrangements for the weekends when I am not having them, she flipped out. I used to cover these days but feel 7:30 am til 2:30pm is a bit of a micky take on top of everything else.
We agreed that I would contribute towards school uniforms and trips as these are exceptional items and that my overpayment should reflect a contribution towards their activities outside of school, i.e. swimming lesson & gymnastics etc.
As I said, apologies if this has been covered before but I want to be clear on what I am expected to cover when I tell her the money is going to reduce
Hello Stuartdixon13
Child maintenance is a contribution towards the cost of bringing up a child and this includes not only such items as food and clothing but also it is a contribution towards the home that the child lives in and the associated costs of running that home. If you and the other parent have a family-based arrangement in place, you may wish to try to discuss and negotiate your child maintenance payments. Although family-based arrangements are not legally enforceable, parents can decide the terms of their agreement to suit their current circumstances, as there are no strict rules or formulas to follow. It can include money and other kinds of support, for example providing clothes.
The Child Maintenance Options website has a useful tools and guides section that you and the other parent may find helpful when trying to negotiate your family-based arrangement. This can be found at http://www.cmoptions.org.
If an application were made via the Government’s statutory scheme, a paying parent is legally responsible only for the amount worked out by the Child Maintenance Service and are not obliged to pay for anything extra unless they wish to do so.
I have included a link that 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.
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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