is child maint actually fair on the paying parent?

This is one of the reasons in the end why I never agreed to paying the csa amounts. Shook gasp horror I hear you cry.

It was strange as well because I then asked if I could have an extra night and gave child based reasoning (would be easier for drop off etc) and all of a sudden all hell broke loose apparently I was trying to take her kids away from her.

There are some who have them exactly 50/50 but who dont have the child benefit and they need to pay csa to the apparent PWC (the one who holds the child book) In my case when I first had our little one I agreed to pay the CB into her account and that is the reason why it was going there otherwise it would have gone into the joint account!

I also personally disagree with the % as it is supposed to be a calculation towards the living costs of the child, surely that can be calculated rather than just an arbitary percentage? (isn't that how they work out JSA!! for simplicity of example - one slice of bread costs x no. of days)

In the end I reduced my overnights to less than three (2.5 I think) and everything seems to be working out ok now

That always used to make me wonder. When they are paying income support you are expected to raise the children on whatever tiny amount it is now plus child benefit but when it comes to CSA suddenly children cost a fortune to raise

Hi

Of course it isnt fair, if you have similar incomes and 50/50 shared care then the 'NRP' still ends up paying for the time their (his usually) kids are not with him, surely anyone with any sense can see that isnt fair and shouldnt all all parents pay something rather than the 'NRP' all of it!

The CSA system is fundamentally flawed everybody knows that and as has been pointed out many times on these boards if you are an errant dad then its probably applicable but when you share care on any basis its unfair particularly if you share care 50/50 and your housing costs are probably a lot more than your ex's as well.

divorcegirl wrote:

That always used to make me wonder. When they are paying income support you are expected to raise the children on whatever tiny amount it is now plus child benefit but when it comes to CSA suddenly children cost a fortune to raise

I know it doesn't make sense and I am certain that the jsa amount was calculated on a back of a fag packet by saying that costs this and then this costs that so this makes a total of peanuts!

In my opinion, I think if both parents have an interest in the child/ren and 'appear' to be fair in all parenting aspects then there would be a lot less moaning.

At the end of the day, those who are happy don't have reason to post here.

The people here who perhaps appear to be moaning as they're hard done by have reason to be.

So yes, while it is a fair point. But each tale is different. Also there are those who from a long-term marriage/relationship run off for a new life and forget their responsibilities. On paper, the CSA seemed like such a good idea which was meant to shut those who like to point fingers and yell "scrounger" up.

As so many things that look good on paper, it has failed.

If you are happy with the support that you have, then that's brilliant.

As a 'NRP' with 50/50 care I have the same housing costs as the 'PWC' as I have to own a house large enough for the children to live in. I also contribute equally to the parenting of the children, probably more than equally as I seem to end up getting the requests for payments on school trips and music lessons. Yet I have the constant threat that my ex could go to the CSA and they would rule that it is the law that I should pay her child maintenance because she is in their eyes the PWC.

The CSA determines the PWC purely with reference to who his named on the child benefit. The problem with this is that when children are born it seems an almost automatic act for the mother to be named on the child benefit and therefore in the CSA eyes become the PWC. In todays world of joint parenting the system is far too regimented.

Yes I could apply to be named on the child benefit, and I have told my ex that if she ever goes to the CSA I will apply for the child benefit, and if I am successful I would pursue her for child maintenance so we have an impasse that seems to work for us.

And that Itgetsbetter is the correct approach.

In 50/50 shared care residence situation with the wisdom of Solomon CBA will split the child benefit as fairly as they can. Obviously they can't split a child so if there is an even number it is straight forward. If it is an odd number one common approach is to give the oldest child's claim to one parent and the next two to the other party (because first child claim is a higher amount).