Welcome to the DAD.Info forum: Important Information – open to read:
Our forum aims to provide support and guidance where it can, however we may not always have the answer. The forum is not moderated 24 hours a day, so If you – or someone you know – are being harmed or in immediate danger of being harmed, call the police on 999.
Alternatively, if you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123.
If you are worried about you or someone you know is at risk of harm, please click here: How we can help
Hi all, 1st timer here, can anyone help me?, I have a recent CSA accepted sum that I pay to my two Boys age 10 & 7, Unfortunately the amount has made it almost impossible to afford to keep my rented 2 bedroom house + its taxes and bills, I have the boys overnight on differing occasions according to my shifts, this is between 1 and 3 times a week. My question is ; If I downgraded to a flat or bedsit etc. would I have to pay more CSA? as this would probably defeat the object. Thanks for your time and trouble.
Regards
Shaun
Child maintenance is worked out on a percentage of salary...they aren't interested in your outgoings or the other parents earnings...just yours.
If you are having the boys overnight you should have been given a reduction on the a,punt you pay. There's a sticky at the top of this section called "how does the CSA calculate payments" have a read through, it might be helpful.
Hi Shoulders
Thanks for your post. I am William the Child Maintenance Options consultant. The Child Support Agency (CSA) works out child maintenance using your weekly income, they do not take into account your outgoings. They take in to account the number of nights your boys stay with you overnight and a reduction is made. You will need to contact the CSA and confirm they have the correct information for you and that are receiving a reduction for having your boy’s overnight.
If you would like to check how much maintenance may be payable, based on how the CSA calculates maintenance, there is a calculator available on our website at http://www.cmoptions.org/en/calculator/, which can provide you with an estimated figure. Some parents use the figure provided as a starting point to negotiate a family-based arrangement.
The CSA is just one option to pay maintenance, if you and your boy’s mum could discuss maintenance together, you may be able to put a family-based arrangement in place. Family-based arrangements are when you and your boy’s mum agree who provides what for them. There are no strict rules or formulas that you have to stick to when agreeing your payment figure. You can include money and other things, for example you providing childcare or things that your boys need. Collaborating together to make and keep a family-based arrangement is better for your boys.
Family-based arrangements are not legally binding. However, they give you the flexibility to change your arrangement as your son gets older and his needs change, or if either you or his father has a change in circumstances.
To help you and your boy’s mum put a family-based arrangement in place we have some tools and guides available to download from our website at http://www.cmoptions.org/en/toolbox/index.asp. You may find our Child Maintenance Decisions guide for paying parents: Information for parents living apart from their child, our Discussions Guide and Taking about money guide useful. These can help you understand your child maintenance choices and help you work out together how much maintenance your boys need.
We also have a family-based arrangement form. You can complete this with your boy’s mum and sign your names to show your commitment to your arrangement. Although this is not a legally enforceable document, it puts the agreement on a more formal basis.
We 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.
To find out more about how Child Maintenance Options can help you visit cmoptions.org or call us free on 0800 988 0988 between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday or 9am and 4pm on Saturday.
Thanks
William
Welcome to the DAD.info forum.
We don’t like to set ‘rules’, but to make sure that you and the other dads are kept safe, we have some requests. When engaging with the forum, please be aware of the following:
- The forum is not moderated 24 hours per day.
- Many of the moderators do so on a voluntary basis. Whilst they may be able to provide some guidance, advice or support, they may not be able to deal with specifics.
- We are not an emergency crisis service so if you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call emergency services.
- If you are concerned about the safety of a child, please click here to find the support you can get for them (link to new page)
- If you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123. They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
We hope you find this forum a supportive environment and thank you for joining us.