Child Maintenance

Just looking at moment but wondering:

2 children 14 and 19.

Married 15 years, wife 52, me 50.

Eldest at university and lives at home in holidays. Had a part time job until last month but laid off. Looking hard but not found at all. Plus some complications with his study. He''s leaving one uni and going to another so will be 22 maybe 23 when he finishes.

14 year old at school but would see him going to uni as well.

I take home 2,300 a month. Wife works for NHS full time and gets around 900.00 just under.

House is fairly small and worth 270,000. Mortgage £425 plus other bills. Downsizing not really an option as area expensive and family would have to move right out of area - away from school, etc.

Just wondering how much maintenance I''d have to pay for the children as a guide.

There is a calculator on the gov.uk website - I was only involed with the old CSA system so not sure what the new rules are. You can go on the calculator to work out what the payments should be and it would only be for 1 child as the one at university is classed as an adult therefore isn''t included in the calculations. I think the CM payments are based just on you salary - try to come to an agreement between yourselves as I think under the new system they charge for taking payments?
I found it hard as I also had one at university and my ex didn''t contribute towards his fees etc as he didn''t have to - you are of course entitled to give your eldest ''pocket money '' if you wish but under child maintenance those at Uni don''t count.
I''m not an expert but sure others will help if I''m wrong.

The csa base the maintenance on your wage and its 15 per cent.
You would be liable for the 14 year old until he is out of full time education and reaches 20 I believe.
I think your payment would be around 370 a month.

If you use CMS it is based on your gross salary now. Liability would be 12% for one child (no liability for son at uni) adjusted by 1/7th for each night you usually have them overnight per week

Yes you are liable until they finish full time education but university is not full time education only up to 6th form or equivalent.
You say your wife works full time and earns £900 a month - she needs to claim all the benefits she can - whilst she can. It maybe you would have to pay your stbx Spousal maintenance but you''re earnings are not particularly high.
Have you started sorting out your finances yet? Sometimes moving and selling up is the only option. In my case the marital home was sold and I now rent as am unable to get a mortage. That could maybe be a possibiblyand then your stbx could claim housing benefit etc?
I found it extremely difficult and still do as my children are older one at Uni they still need a home but the law says differently!

No full time education isn''t university some college courses are classed as full time.
Why won''t you eldest continue at university? I had no income as unable to work no help from my ex - my son went through university fine - I claimed all the grants and bursaries I could - your stbx needs to contact student finance ASAP to sort this out. Surely you want your child to finish his/her degree course? The way student finance is now there''s no reason why they can''t continue and finish the course. Yes they come out with huge debts a lot do but won''t have to start paying it back until they earn a substantial salary.
Don''t want to be mean but you sound like my ex pay the bear minimum and who cares if your children don''t have anywhere to live? I proved to my ex I could survive and his kids could survive - if you want to pay the bare minimum do so that''s up to you. But just consider your children''s feelings and future.