What should csa money be used for

I live my partner whos ex has stopped his daughter from seeing him. Fast foward my partner had a letter from child maintainance this morning for his child he hasnt seen in 9 weeks!! Luckily i can afford to take her to the cleaners The child has issues 1 big issue is her mother!!!! Kaykay - 8-May PM. I haven't done this but were would a seperated Dad stand legally if he decided to pay the child maintenance into a pre-paid debit card and passed that card to the Mother? Whilst not preventing the mother from spending the maintenance on items not directly for the child, it may act as a deterent as the father would see all transactions.

ATM withdrawls could also be disabled. Is there any legal requirement on the method that child maintenance has to be paid? Chas - 5-May PM. Bit of a long one but need some advice. Whilst we were together, we moved away from my home town about miles away.

We split up, I moved back to near my family. I earn minimum wage so struggle to be able to afford to see my kids. I pay for them monthly and that money is never late and I make sure the kids have all they need in terms of clothes, shoes, stuff for school etc.

I call a couple of times a week and the kids have tablets that they can contact me on if they want to talk any other time. Dear all, Thanks for your comments. It has helped me to ge a better insight into this issue and gave me an awckard feel that I am not alone unfortunetely. I can see many people is complaining about CMS. I have been put on Deduction from Earnings Order unfairly. The service is very poor. And this can't be changed in six months. I have raised a complain and need to speak to CMS.

If no sensible solution is given to me I am going to raise the complain through them and also the Ombudsman. Has anybody here have had any experience complaining to CMS? The system is not working for many fathers in many ways and this should change.

Tortu - Dec PM. My advice to separated fathers especially those not married to their ex. Put the welfare of the children first. Negotiate or use Mediation Service to agree sensible split of assets and reasonable child support.

Avoid solicitors at all costs and avoid Schedule 1 proceedings in court. Avoid CMS if you can 5. Set up agreeable access to the children and don't discuss issues with them 6. Respect your ex as mother of your children - it's not an easy job! Solicitors and courts are not on the side of the Father.

My experience is that Solicitors and Barristers on both sides will clean out all your cash and equity in any assets you have and award her the rest. Be careful and avoid if you can.

G - 9-Dec PM. Well here goes, split with my ex 3 and half years ago, always supported her every month even paying for holidays and foreign trips for her to go on with friends and to see her family, regularly having my son more than 4 or 5 nights a week even though I work full time, first lock down came and my place was not suitable for him to be back and forth between us, so spent four months on pretty much a camp bed in his room at his Mums so she could still do her 16 hours a week in a supermarket.

I am Lucky as I do get to spend so much time with my son but what a joke the benefits system is. Rant over Benefitsareajoke - Nov AM.

I have recently split up with my partner we have 2 young kids sons 5 daughter 3 Anytime I try to get in contact with my kids we end up arguing. Airz - Nov PM. Can't see as that's particularly fair, especially when she sends them to school in uniform with holes in or 2nd hand from the school stall.

Seems to me that at some levels child maintenance is actually borderling spousal maintenance. Harry Potter - 6-Nov PM. At the moment I am paying child maintance to the csa. What was calculated for me to payed for my 2 sons I have to be doing 2 jobs to meet the payments I have two property's but nothing coming in from them often paying the mortgage I just got a letter from the inland revenuemy sx - partner asking for more money.

And also lumpsum from the property can she do this she has known shares in the properties we wasn't married. Was only leaving together please advice me on my rights to this. Amity - Oct PM. I have been paying csa for 3 years for my 3 children. I have an agreement with my ex-wife.

We agreed I would pay less during lockdown as I had them more than my usual 3 nights a week. Due to the extra days it works out I have had them 4 nights a week.

On top of CSA I contribute towardsschool uniform, tennis lessons aswell as food shopping, clothing and holidays when they are with me. I do not ask my ex for any contribution towards anything I purchase or spend on regarding the children. Any advice. Am I liable for this? Confused - 3-Feb AM. Hi my sons dad pays minimal CSA but still expects me to provide clothing when they stay with him.

Do I have to supply clothes that I mostly pay for when they stay at his. Kipp - Jan PM. So I have started to receive child matenice do I have to supply him with nappies and good Lloyds95 - 1-Oct PM. Hi - I hope you can help. Can anyone explain to me if this is fair? My ex earns a great deal more than me and I am having to fund towards my sons nursery fees - food - clothing - shelter etc?? Thanks Amz - 6-Aug AM. I split up with my ex 2 years ago. He pays nothing towards our son.

He has him 1 night whenever it suits him. Today he told me I will need milk, food and clothes for our son. In the past I've done this so I know my son has had food.

My ex is on benefits like me he's on uc and lives in a 1 bedroomed flat. He seems to think that the food I get for me and my son I should provide for him when he has him. I've not had a penny off him even though he's had a few jobs in the past.

He was an abusive man, physically, mentally and emotionally and he's still doing it now!! I have to ask him to have our son and when I do it's why, what you doing where you going, or it's a bit early in week monday to be asking if I'm doing anything at weekend.

I just need to know I don't have to provide essentials when he's got our son only if I feel the need to Cazza - Jul PM. My ex partner looks after the children for 3 nights and pays me the maintenance less these 3 days. Who should therefore buy shoes, clothes for children, and pay for school trips? Should it be divided equally? Kakadu - Jul AM. I go onto the gov website every April to recalculate what my payments should be to keep it fair.

This has never been an issue about the amount I pay. On average my son spends 3 nights a week at my house. I always thought that my maintenance payment was for clothes?

Is there anyone who can give me advice on this please. CJ - Jul PM. My ex has our son 3 nights per week, I have him 4. He pays me 40 pound a week, privately agreed.

I need to buy school uniform for my son costing around pounds. My ex wont go halfers with me and says I have to take it from the maintenance money.

Is this correct? Funmum - Jun PM. Hi, myself and ex partner have recently gone through the CMS to arrange maintenance paid by myself. She is now telling me I have to pay more money for childcare fees. Do I have to pay towards childcare if paying the correct amount of maintenance?

I also pay for their swimming lessons, school trips and uniform on top Thanks Ben - 9-Jun PM. Hello I wonder if anyone can advise. He has left my daughter with a mortgage, household bills, toddler and dog and moved in with someone else. My daughter works full time and has just changed her job as he would not come and pick the baby up for her to get to work in time. Is it that he only pays this amount? Kal - Mar PM. I have been separated from my ex for 6 years have 3 children 19,15 and 9.

Both boys live with me and daughter lives with my ex, maintenance has only been paid with the help of the csa for the past 2 years and contact was running smoothly on my part with my youngest eldestest has been disowned by him but sporadic on his part, past few months maintenance payments have been short yet I've still to run a house pay bills and feed our boys on my own which I am trying to do but I also study and work part time and pay maintenance for my daughter , it's very draining, mentally and physically trying to create a better life and run the one you have with little support.

My ex has been dragging his feet about providing payslips since November and me and my middle child are now arguing because ive ceased contact till its all sorted.

I find it hard to do the right thing in this circumstance Angel81 - Feb AM. He buys there clothes and shoes etc. The costs of school fees, day trips, toys, hobbies and holidays are usually allocated by family-based arrangements. You can easily calculate the amount of child maintenance you should pay to your ex-spouse with our straightforward child maintenance calculator.

Indeed, when there is a substantial change in income or wealth available to either parent, it may be possible to make changes to the amount of child maintenance with the help of a solicitor. In principle, new partnerships do not affect child maintenance arrangements, regardless of whether one of the parents enters into marriage or into a civil partnership. However, the level of payments can be adjusted if, for example, either of your income levels change.

Child maintenance payments usually stop when the child in question is 16 years old. If the child is in full-time education up to A-level or equivalent, payments stop once they reach