[Solved] Child Maintenance and Childcare

Hi there

If you are paying maintenance through the CMS then you are not liable for any extra costs. If you have a family based arrangement then you would be free to negotiate the amount you pay.

My ex and I get along well these days and I'm gonna try to explain how she explained it to me:

If she claims working tax credits as a single parent, then she should get up to 70% of childcare cost added to her money. So she's only actually paying 30% of that 142 herself. If you want to pay half of that 142, it's roughly 21.30 a week or 92.30 a month. 😉

But if you pay what the cms say, you don't have to.

I have to say that £142 for 2.5 days a week sounds excessive to me.

I know - it's £56 per day and £30 for a 1/2 day 😮

Hmmm. If the CMS has said for you to pay the £300 just stick to that buddy. £300 ontop all your expenses incuding mortages it is not like you are left with much as it is.
In terms of child care arrangement such as nursery the mother will have to deal with that. If shes working and then getting the 300quid per month ontop of child tax credit it is not like she will be out of pocket.

But I do like that you are having an amicable relationship with your ex so it might be good idea to explain it carefully to her that you are giving is alot as is. Maybe get her to explain how much money tax credit she is getting etc.

Also if you lived close by you could see if you can increase your contact with your child? Maybe talk with your employer and see if they are flexible. Some people work nights/lates so maybe you could have child during the day and give to mother when she gets home?

Hope everything goes well.

Thanks for the post.

I've given her an ultimatum (by email) - I will only pay 50% of the childcare costs of any amount in excess of the child tax credit she receives - take it or leave it. Otherwise she can make an approach to the CMS.

We had previously come to an amicable agreement without going to the CMS, but it was only by looking into it myself that I realised she would be receiving a good chunk of child tax credits from the government. She hadn't disclosed this previously which infuriated me.

She is very protective of our son and won't let me have him on my own as it disturbs his 'routine' - only when it suits her. So no nightly visits :boohoo:

Hi There,
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I agree with the above, if you are paying through CMS, then that is your only legal obligation to pay, you can decide to pay more and I think that if you offer to pay half of anything over what the tax credit doesn't cover then you are being very fair, the only issue I see is that she hasn't disclosed (and doesn't sound like she will) the amount she gets so you would have to take her word on it.
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GTTS

Child care vouchers might be something that she could consider and could save your ex money

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/childcare-vouchers.

If your son is independent enough to go to nursery, he's old enough to spend more time with you and that includes overnights! There are options open to you, mediation being the first step in this process. Here's a link

www.nfm.org.uk

Best of luck

Thanks for the post.

I've given her an ultimatum (by email) - I will only pay 50% of the childcare costs of any amount in excess of the child tax credit she receives - take it or leave it. Otherwise she can make an approach to the CMS.

We had previously come to an amicable agreement without going to the CMS, but it was only by looking into it myself that I realised she would be receiving a good chunk of child tax credits from the government. She hadn't disclosed this previously which infuriated me.

She is very protective of our son and won't let me have him on my own as it disturbs his 'routine' - only when it suits her. So no nightly visits :boohoo:

Hi there

Its not clear if you are actually paying through the CMS (or rather that a CMS case has been opened) - and from your last message, you suggest it has not as she "can approach CMS".

Firstly you should check what you would be required to pay using the calculator here, before issuing ultimatums (!!):
www.cmoptions.org/en/calculator/

Secondly, it is important to appreciate that informal (or family based) arrangements are "unique" to each family-unit... so while the child-tax credits are perhaps a large income for your ex - the CMS will be not interested in the slightest what your ex earns (child tax credits, or otherwise). It is simply a liability levied at non-resident parents.

My advice would be try to make the agreement work as far as you can (guided by statutory requirements / CMS amounts, of course) - but as Mojo suggests mediation is something to consider here (even just the MIAM). If you "smell" disagreements or contact "games" on the horizon...then getting the MIAM (and putting it in your back pocket) will give you a head start if things degrade enough for Courts to be involved. Also, (as a bonus) mediation may actually help in obtaining more contact with your child.

Hope helps.