CSA rulings on child support

My son has received a communication from the CSA with the amount he has to pay already worked out. He is living with us on a temporary basis but soon will be renting his own place. He has not been asked anything about his outgoings by the CSA such as rent, council tax, gas and electricity etc.

He was asked by his wife to vacate the marital home as she had a 'new partner'. He therefore left with only a few clothes and nothing else. She is claiming benefits but the new partner does not reside there full time, although apparently he stays over.

My son now needs to buy everything from beds down to cutlery before he moves into rented accommodation with the children. His ex has indicated that she would like a shared child care arrangement, one week on and one week off. My son is more than happy with this arrangement.

Do CSA consider any of these factors?

As far as I know CSA use a simple % of the father's salary.

This is a link to their page about how they work out maintenance:

www.csa.gov.uk/en/setup/how-maintenance-calculated.asp

The person in receipt of Child Benefit is deemed the parent with care for CSA purposes and unfortunately for your son the CSa doesn't take into account the factors you mention. Child support is calculated as a % of his net income - 15% for one child, 20% for two and 25% for three or more. There is a discount for the number of overnight stays the children spend with your son.

Thanks for your answers peeps. A percentage of income seems relatively simple. The cost of housing,council tax and domestic bills will impact quite a lot more on those earning less than 20K than those earning 50K for example. More strain in my opinion on the less well paid.

Hi Stepper

You are correct.But your sons ex wife has a duty to help as your son has too.

Unfortunately there may not be enough money to go round to make everyone happy. Can he move back into the FMH?

Other question, is she overclaiming? might a call to the local council as a concerned citizen be in order?

Tell him not to worry too much her time will come

I think Stepper was referring to her son's costs when he moves into his own accommodation. For families with modest resources there is often simply not enough to go round to make 50:50 shared care viable without the children suffering undue hardship.

The problem for many fathers is that Child Benefit and tax credits cannot be shared. However, when there is more than one child it is possible to claim CB for each child separately so for example when there are two children each parent claims CB for one child and receives tax credits and child maintenance is calculated on each child and payments balanced between the parents.

As far as higher earners are concerned the CSA has a capped rate and the courts can award top up payments.

Fiona wrote:

However, when there is more than one child it is possible to claim CB for each child separately so for example when there are two children each parent claims CB for one child and receives tax credits and child maintenance is calculated on each child and payments balanced between the parents.
.

The problem is that often the mother will not allow the other paret the opportunity to have the CB. That is certainly the situation in my case she claims I would be taking away her children!! And that is with me having them virtually 50:50