Child Maintenance HELP !!!!

[suzanne108]

I've been looking in child maintenance the last week or so....trying to figure out my options. I have tried talking to FOB about it twice when we first split up about 10/11 weeks ago but both times he ignored me.

My problem is this.....FOB works in a gym where he has 25 permanent hours a week, but most weeks he does extra shifts which could mean he ends up working 40+ hours. However, his shifts change every week depending on whats going on - how busy it is, holidays, they have a function room so sometimes he works behind the bar for parties/weddings etc.

I think he's paid about £6 an hour...so based on this he could earn anywhere between £150-£270 a week.

I'm guessing that CSA would go off his contracted hours of 25hrs a week? Or would they use an average? Would be good if they could automatically take a percentage of what he earns...that way if he has a good week I get a good share...and vice versa. IMO this is only fair right?

However, I've just been speaking to a work colleague about it (she's had dealing with the CSA of late) and she doesn't think they do this....does anyone else know? She said it might be better that if I can agree with him to that he gives me 15% (example!) of his earnings then we could set up a court order. But this would cost ME yeah???

HELP please...it'll be VERY much appreciated. I am planning on looking into it a bit more next week as I have a week off work, and I think I'm gonna ring either citizens advice or CM options to see if they can help at all....just wondered if anyone here knows of anything or has been in the same boat?

Thanks

 

[bloodbinds]

The CSA will take from him a percentage or amount of one set figure every month - wheter he has good or bad weeks what you will get will be the same unfortunatly. Most likely using his contracted hours.

You can set up a private agreement with him where no court is involved and he sets up a standing order or direct debit to your account and pays you a set figure every month directly, but only do this if you can trust him to make sure he pays it.

 

[xxannxx]

I have recently been dealing with CSA and as far as i am aware they requested copies of ex's last 3 months payslips and averaged 15% of that to come up with amount. Like you my ex also has varying hours, and he toyed with idea of appealing decision as thought was having to pay too much, but in the end agreed. My LO is 3 and me+ex had a private arrangement for 1st year, then he decided he didn't want me to have money anymore, so he said he was paying into an account for 2nd year (i have never seen any proof of this), then this year he decided would give me money again, but changed mind when was due, so decided enough was enough and went to CSA. I would advise you to sort this out sooner rather than later, i wish i had!!!

 

[suzanne108]

Thanks, I am definitely going to get advice from someone next week...I'll probably ring CM Options and see what they suggest.

I definitely don't trust him to set up a standing order so I want to do it either through the CSA or court order. I still have 3 months or so to work it out...I'm just trying to work out how I'm gonna be financially xx

 

[woadie]

Hiya Suzanne

Everyone seems to be asking questions that are going around in my head too so I'm so pleased you posted this one! My ex works in a garden centre / nursery and has low income of around £800 per month... except that in the growing season between March and July he was doing hours outside his contracted, starting as early as 6am and ending between 8pm and 9pm plus working seven day weeks... this money is how he lives all year around on his lower wage, and it is paid cash in hand above that salaried amount. So, an extra 42 hours a week for at least 1/3 of the year that the CSA will be totally unaware of... when I come to apply, I will be completely ballsed on that! It certainly will make his average monthly salary up to at least a third more... I don't know what on earth I can do about about this one really...

When I did a calculation on his wages it looks like I will get, at the very most, £30 a week from him. But I know he should be paying at least £10 - 15 a week more. This money will make all the difference to me as I will be paying full time child care costs...

It sucks how these men are able to get around the rules.

 

[suzanne108]

It really is poo isn't it!!

I'd guess that in my case and also yours the CSA will work off contracted hours. Shitty. But I don't know for sure. At best be worked on his average earnings over a 3 month period, but still we'll be worse off I think. If you can come to a private agreement it might be better, but then you have to trust him to set up a standing order and pay on time etc. And trust him to not cancel it - how can you trust someone that left you in the lurch whilst pregnant!!

To be honest, as much as I need and want the money, I'm more bothered about the principle of him paying money out. If the money was taken out of his account and flushed down the toilet it wouldn't bother me all that much (you get my point, I would hate to see money flushed down a toilet!!!!!)...I just want to hit him where I know it hurts - and thats his bank balance lol, cos he's a bloody cheapskate!!!!

You mentioned you will need to pay full time child care costs...so I presume you're going back to work full time? Have you looked into tax credits if you were to work 16 hours a week? I was planning on going back full time, then my friend (another single mum!) mentioned that I should look at the tax credits calculator. Anyway I worked out that if I go back to work 16 hours I will actually be better off money wise than going back full time and obviously I'll have more time to spend with LO! And I'll get back 80% of my childcare costs for the times when I am in work! Anyway I'll stop going on about it as you might already know...

xx

 

[bloodbinds]

Yeah, it really is rubbish!

I will be claiming benefits so i will only be getting the standard £20 a week off him anyway so it doesn't matter too much to me :-/ - and that is only if he hurrys up and gets himself a bloody job! Otherwise i get £5 a week! :-O !!

 

[purpledahlia]

I didnt know that about the 16 hours a week and tax credits thing... thanks!

Also whats CM .. you mentioned getting advice but what is it?

The FOB in my case also works extra over his working hours, and can earn nearly 300 a weekend, weekend work if offered every week and he can say yes or no, usually he says yes 2 times a month so thats 600 the CSA wont know about. SHITTY.

 

[suzanne108]

I didnt know that about the 16 hours a week and tax credits thing... thanks!

Also whats CM .. you mentioned getting advice but what is it?

The FOB in my case also works extra over his working hours, and can earn nearly 300 a weekend, weekend work if offered every week and he can say yes or no, usually he says yes 2 times a month so thats 600 the CSA wont know about. SHITTY.

If you go on that website, you need to pretend like you've already had the baby to get your calculation!

https://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/Qualify/DIQHousehold.aspx

CM = Child Maintenance. There is a website https://www.cmoptions.org/ its got some good general advice but there is a number to ring to get advice on your own circumstances

xx

 

[purpledahlia]

ooh ok, i dont know his contracted salary so can i still work out what id be entitled too?

 

[bloodbinds]

I've just guessed to get a round-about figure, lol. I've guessed the lowest i think it might be and also what i think the highest might be, then have averaged it out so i know sort of what i'll be getting, haha.

 

[suzanne108]

Yeah I think you just need to have a guess?! I didn't know exactly either but you can get an idea I suppose xx

 

[lilyd]

i have a friend who pays his maintenence through the CSA (he actually set up the arrangement). the arrangement has been in place for the last year, but he has just been asked to produce his last 3 wage slips so it can be re assessed. i don't know if this is the csa's standard practice or not, but in this case any overtime that he has worked in those months will be included in the csa's calculation. i know this is no help to those whos FOB's get cash in hand, but it may help those whose do 'official' overtime.

 

[purpledahlia]

ph thats good, it shows CSA to re-asses. thats a good thing.

 

[Welshcob]

It really is poo isn't it!!

I'd guess that in my case and also yours the CSA will work off contracted hours. Shitty. But I don't know for sure. At best be worked on his average earnings over a 3 month period, but still we'll be worse off I think. If you can come to a private agreement it might be better, but then you have to trust him to set up a standing order and pay on time etc. And trust him to not cancel it - how can you trust someone that left you in the lurch whilst pregnant!!

To be honest, as much as I need and want the money, I'm more bothered about the principle of him paying money out. If the money was taken out of his account and flushed down the toilet it wouldn't bother me all that much (you get my point, I would hate to see money flushed down a toilet!!!!!)...I just want to hit him where I know it hurts - and thats his bank balance lol, cos he's a bloody cheapskate!!!!

You mentioned you will need to pay full time child care costs...so I presume you're going back to work full time? Have you looked into tax credits if you were to work 16 hours a week? I was planning on going back full time, then my friend (another single mum!) mentioned that I should look at the tax credits calculator. Anyway I worked out that if I go back to work 16 hours I will actually be better off money wise than going back full time and obviously I'll have more time to spend with LO! And I'll get back 80% of my childcare costs for the times when I am in work! Anyway I'll stop going on about it as you might already know...

xx

That was GREAT advice for me. Thank you so much. Currently going back full time for me I get £20 a week tax credits. That is just rubbish. I have been afraid to contact FOB via CSA or any other method - Not allowed to anyway till when the baby is born. But I wanted to avoid getting him mad.... so not claim any assistance from him financially. But I see I simply can't even pay my rent without his help. So CSA here we come. And I will look at the tax credit calculator if I can find one on line and see what that comes up with

 

[suzanne108]

Welshcob I posted a link on here for the tax credits calculator

I wouldn't worry about getting FOB mad...he should have SOME responsibility when it comes to bringing up his child and if money is the only way he can do that... Have you tried to set up a private agreement with him? Maybe if you try to do this, or at least mention it he won't be as mad/surprised when a letter from the CSA turns up on his doorstep. xxx

 

[DizzyMoo]

As said previously they don't just go on contracted hours, They will request his last 3 payslips sometimes more, They will then use a percentage of those 3 to come to an amount. This amount can be changed throughout the year if he requests a recalculation too.

 

[suzanne108]

You'll never guess what the bloody fool has gone and done????

Broke his arm and collar bone playing football...so as he works as a fitness instructor thats him off work for a while. Six weeks he says but I reckon longer.....so he's only gonna be paid for his contracted hours. Shit, shit, shit!!

 

[purpledahlia]

thats annoying!!