How Child Maintenance Is Calculated from Your Income
The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) works out how much child maintenance a paying parent owes based on their income. This typically means looking at earnings from employment or self-employment, though other income sources can also count, including rental income, dividends, and certain benefits depending on individual circumstances.
When payments are not made voluntarily, the CMS has several enforcement options available. One of the most commonly used is the Deduction from Earnings Order, which takes money directly from your wages before you receive them.
Answer a few questions about your situation and get a clear summary of your child maintenance rights and options.
Try our Child Support Rights Checker free, here on this site →What Is a Deduction from Earnings Order?
A Deduction from Earnings Order (DEO) allows the CMS to collect child maintenance straight from your pay. Your employer deducts the amount owed and sends it to the CMS, which then passes it on to the parent with care.
This method is similar to an Attachment of Earnings Order used for other debts, such as county court judgments or unpaid fines. The key difference is that a DEO applies specifically to child maintenance.
Your employer is legally obligated to comply once they receive a DEO. Employers who refuse to make the required deductions can face prosecution and may be ordered to pay a penalty. They can also be held liable for any arrears that build up as a result of their failure to act.
A DEO can provide a straightforward way to keep on top of payments without having to remember to transfer money each month.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
What Counts as Earnings?
The definition of earnings for child maintenance purposes covers more than just your basic salary.
Earnings typically include:
- Wages and salary from employment
- Overtime pay
- Bonuses and commission
- Sick pay and statutory sick pay
- Holiday pay
- Payments for piece work or shift allowances
Some types of income are usually excluded from the calculation. These may include certain expenses paid by your employer, redundancy payments, and some pension contributions. The rules around what counts can vary depending on your specific circumstances.
If you are self-employed, the CMS will look at your taxable profits rather than earnings in the traditional sense. This figure is usually taken from information held by HMRC, based on your most recent tax return. Business expenses and losses may affect how your income is calculated, so keeping accurate records is important.
Protected Earnings and Challenging Your Assessment
The law sets limits on how much can be taken from your wages through a DEO. You are entitled to keep a minimum amount, known as your protected earnings rate. This ensures you can still cover basic living costs.
The exact amount you keep will depend on your income level and personal circumstances. The CMS cannot take so much that you fall below this protected threshold.
If you believe the deductions being made are incorrect, or that your income has been calculated wrongly, you can ask the CMS to review your case. You will typically need to provide evidence of your actual earnings, such as payslips or tax returns. If you remain dissatisfied after a mandatory reconsideration, you can appeal to a tribunal.
For current figures on maintenance rates and thresholds, check the GOV.UK website. The CMS also has a child maintenance calculator that can give you an estimate based on your situation.
If you have questions about how your earnings are being assessed or how a DEO affects you, the CMS can explain the calculations. Citizens Advice can also offer free guidance on child maintenance matters.
If I only cash in the 25% tax free will this count as income and money deducted for CSA?
Regards.
As a UK resident and paying my tax and national insurance in the uk.
Does my shares i hold in the US get factored in when calculating my child maintenance payments, even though I pay the tax on my shares in the US and not the UK?
If I receive a lump sum pension payment into my bank account, will the CSA treat this as income and increase my CSA payments.
is this just a money making scam like the divorce lawyers and barristers ?
Thanks
I have read in the above information that CMS is calculated on a wage AFTER tax, NI and pension is taken.
I have spoken with CMS themselves but they have stated the calculation is done BEFORE deductions.
Can anybody confirm this please.
Thanks
Would this be classed as an income?
Would the calculation be salary earned to date plus the Redundancy, to then form the new payments i would be expected to make even though i have no intention of working once redundant.
I’m currently employed and pay regular child maintenance.
I also make money from online gambling.
For example . If I generate let’s say £100,000 per year gambling would I pay child support from this ? As it’s none taxable and it’s classed as winning money but not a Guaranteed income.
My son is separated from the mother of his children and she has arranged for child maintenance payments to be taken direct from his salary via CMS. He has two children and his earnings are approximately £260 per week before deductions so was expecting to pay around £42 per week in maintenance (20% of his salary). His deductions have been calculated at £104 per week (40% of his salary) as his ex partner has stated that he has not paid anything for the children since they separated about a year ago. This is despite that fact that he was giving her payments in cash of between £30 and £50 per week depending on what he was earning and what outgoings he had. Unfortunately as this was in cash he has no proof that payments were made and so CMS have calculated that he owes a significant amount of arrears. This level of deduction is causing him severe financial hardship as he is paying £80 per week towards shared living costs to his new girlfriends mother as well as trying to run a car, pay for a mobile phone etc. He has tried contacting CMS via his local MP, contacting them directly and asking his employers HR/wages department for help but to no avail. Is there any way that the percentage amount being deducted can be reduced to a more reasonable amount while still paying off the supposed arrears?
I'm thinking it is right but any info would be appreciated
Many thanks.
My sons mother complained to child maintenance about the amount she was getting she said hes on a 1000£ a week and drives a Mercedes so they got my p60 that started my earnings before tax was around 40 of thousand and are taking 148£ a week, I went against this and said you haven't take into account I get 200£ tax free lodge and I get 220£ tax free travel every 4 weeks so they said because that doesn't take you over the 25% legislation we cant look at it but the got the amount wrong in the first place, is this correct, surely they got it wrong first but when taken into account my lodge and travel it doesnt take it over 25% so no we are charging you on the lodge and travel? That's wrong isn't it,
I also have a cout order that cost me over 5000 to get access it states that I get him for 38 nights a year but I can have him more and I do have him alot more and takes me over 52 nights a year but because she said no he doesnt that's it I cant get shared care reductions and I have to pay again in court to get it changed.
This is ruining my life and career
She has now sold the house (£90,000 profit) and low and behold has now made an application to the CMS. They have calculated my pension into my payments, even though they have a copy of the minute agreement.
This seems very wrong to me, is there anything that I can do?
Thankyou
I earn 34k / yr and yet HMRC have detailed I earn £39k. I have since discovered that this is due to BiK for my company car.
in order to have the car which I need for my job, as I travel across the North of the country. without the company car I could not complete my work.
but nevertheless, the car means I have a reduced tax code but if I have a reduced tax code, that mean I pay a higher rate of tax. so when they add the additional 5k to my wage, I am being taxed and then charged for the purposes of CM calculations. hit TWICE! without seeing any monetary value for it...I can be the only one who does not understand.
HMRC have ruled that the amount is not subject to income tax.
I am no longer working and I am using the settlement to support me through a couple of years of study at university.
Is this settlement payment classed as income for the purposes of child maintenance?
Unfortunately looks like another case of someone who works for this agency and doesnt know how the rules work.
Thanks again
I am a "non resident parent with Care"
I earned 40k in 2016/17 with overtime etc, and paid all my due amounts however recently changed to a salaried job and took a small hit in wages to 36k per year for 2017/2018.
I have now came up for annual review in August and the CMS say my payments wont change as i am within the 25% rule !!
My latest P60 says 36K but CMS say they will continue to use the 40K from the year previous.
Surely this cant be correct ? I tried to explain this to the CMS rep but they assured me it was correct and reffered me to my local MP !!
This is a threat he's been using for 4 yrs and has now seen it through.
£17,810 under repayment of loan in that time. Is this classed as income?
My ex wife is paying just £12 a week for our 2 children based on her declared earnings of 7k a year. Yet recently at court she had to produce 12 months bank statements and she has earned on top of her 7k a further 18k. I believe this is cash in hand on a part time business she runs but she has told the CMS financial investigation Unit that its money given to her from friends & family to help her out.
Can the CMS take cash payments from friends & family into consideration? I am confident it is from her business and have evidence to back it up but would appreciate an answer as to whether they can base a calculation on this ‘help from family’ ?
i have been earning 20k a year on top of my basic salary due to working A LOT of overtime as i was buying a new house, i had a personal agreement with the mother but she has decided to contact CMS and now they want an astronomical amount off me each month which without any overtime isnt humanly possible for me to live. how do i get round this? i was paying her exactly what the government calculator worked out based on my basic salary but now she wants a cut of my overtime which ive put my live on hold to earn.
whats the deal?
For the last three years I send all my SIPP payments through to the CMS and everyone they do not take them into account. I believe this is because they are not “occupational”
Recently my employer enrolled me into Smart Pension - this acts in exactly the same way as my SIPP so I am expecting the same treatment.
My confusion is - I read on numerous websites that ALL pension contributions need to be taken into account and a recent FOI request to DWP stated that private pension contributions should be taken into account.
I would be grateful for you view?
Wondering if you could help me or give me some advice
I have a 14 old son to my ex partner
I have always paid the agreed amount set by csa/CMS or my ex partner I have never missed a payment and always seen my son until ,The CMS got involved this year
I was living in a damp 2 bed house with my wife and 2 kids age 4 boy n 6 girl they where sharing the same bedroom
My oldest son would come and stay over most weekends but sleep down stairs on the sofa bed and I'd sleep down straits with him
Me n my wife couldn't afford anything bigger as we had childcare cost
But last year my ex employers asked my to work away for 12 months 7 days a week
Triple my current pay on a bonus system etc
So I did and earned 85k for one year only
This allowed to get a mortgage on a proper 4 bed house which I explained to my ex
It was a one off I was earning lots of money
I would drive for hours without any sleep at weekends so I could still see my son still
Then soon as the 12 months where up the bonus scheme stopped and I was back on 18k to 21k basic money with no overtime
Me n my wife set aside just in case my earning came back down
We wasn't bothered as we had a nice house for all the kids to enjoy and my oldest lad had his own bedroom
We even brought a Tv n bed on a Visa card to make it nice for him
It meant cutting back but we just wanted somewhere nice for them
But our childcare cost dropped down to 120 a week from 250 at a high of 350 as my wife's mom as helped us out
Soon as we got the house my ex contacted the CMS as I explained I have not got the kind of money coming in to pay what me and her agreed and the cost of the new house
She didn't believe even thought I shown her letters from the company n wages slips
Next min I get put on temp lay off without any pay where I can't even sign on or find another job as I would lose my rights of employment
CMS contact me and asked me for 200 pounds a week plus based on my last years earning I explained I was in n out of work so they waited 8 weeks and re asset my case
And it came down to 37 pounds a week
I was allowed to work for 314 a week top line
That's was take home 260 then take away
37 for CMS I can't even pay my bills childcare cost or mortgage cost of running a car to pick my son up every weekend who lives 30 pound fuel trips away
Cost of running a car etc
My car 15 years old with 130k on it
It got to the point where I was stressed as I was putting all the pressure on my wife to do overtime to pay most of the bills and my CMS
Next min I fall n hurt my back at work
I have to leave my job
I'm current been out of work I've tried begging with my ex to sort things out between us n not the CMS as I can't afford to work n run a car to pick my son up and get to work
Each week cos if I have a job the CMS don't take into account my cost of childcare for my other two children and my mortgage cost to keep a roof over my families head
I've no
I received a £7,000 approx lump sum from work as part of a relocation package in the public interest to move establishments. This was for the purpose of vehicle purchase and not actually earnings. CMS have based my latest annual calculation on a figure that includes this payment. Although it was taxable it wasn’t earnings and doesn’t reflect what I bring home each month. Can they use this figure in their calculation?
Can a voluntary redundancy payment be taken into account in child maintenance payments if the payment is over £30,000?
Thanks
My daughter has now moved to her dad's.
How with the cms calculate how much maintenance I have to pay ?
I'm down about £80 a month.... compared to this time 6 months ago.
Thank you
Why is this Notional amount added to my salary for the purposes of the CSM calculation? I'm paying money to my ex that I don't actually earn?
Why doesn't the CSM do the smart thing and just use Taxable earnings as the basis for their calculations?, thus eliminating grey areas and making it an all round fairer system... My mortgage, my bills and everything else I have to pay for in life is paid for with my earnings... notional payments are not disposable income.
Due to the fact I receive £1,100.00 per month, I receive absolutely nothing from the State. However, the CMS have decided to take 11% gross from this sum, as an award to my daughter's mother. My rent is £650 per month and I am currently running at a negative of £250 per month.
The question is whether what I receive is "earnings" or not?
I have no issue paying my dues, but if I was entitled to ESA, my payments would be £7 per week. I feel I am being punished for having a legacy, that was afforded me, way before I met my child's mother?
If you do cash in a Pension Pot then I can 100% assure you that it definitely is taken into consideration by CMS when your Annual review comes up.
My Annual Review letter arrived today with a massive uplift in my next 12 months of payments.
I called CMS to query this as I had called them earlier in the year to question as to whether cashing in a pension pot would or would not be taken into account.
The answer I received back then from the CMS was; 'No it would not be taken into account by the CMS' and so I went ahead and made serious financial decisions based on that advice.
The answer I received TODAY when I queried the calculations was; 'Yes, it is taken into account and you were ill-advised (by the CMS) earlier in the year'.
So, please BEWARE!!
He is not on benefits as savings level too high.
Has income from shares and private pension.
Can you find out what he earns and can this be classed as his income and assessential made for maintenance?
If I take a lump sum from my pension pot.
Will this impact on my cms direct payments to my ex.
That is will it be added to my yearly review,
When being assessed for next year's payments.
I'm about to get a medical discharge from the army. Will my invalidity pension be taken into account for child support payments ?
Thanks
I was on a collect & pay scheme and was charged 20% on top of my payments, now on direct pay to mother.
The arrears arose after an argument with my ex over her spending on nights out and me arguing the fact the money was for our son not the p1$$, it was £50 per week I paid. she then decided to go CSM to shut me up and get one over as I have never not paid and I always would pay. However, they had on their records my old employment wage and dictated I should of paid £85 per week up until Christmas then the new payment of £56 per week in January onwards, with extra added on to pay arrears to the sum of £320 per month.
Now, I've been in my current employment since 2014 so my wage hasn't changed but CSM refused to adjust this and I'm left with arrears, hence my view of these being "phantom"
The other issue I have is they have me down as earning 5k annual, this is due to me having a company vehicle that I pay tax on.
Question is, this is a benefit provided by the company so I can drive around the uk carrying out my work commitments and I don't see this 5k
Is this right, can they take this into account??
I've just had a new born, 6week old and I'm on my knees, I have debts/bills and new family to support and just think this isn't right.
I would never not pay and pay fair but feelim being had and it's really bringing myself and my wife down.
Any advise or guidance on this would be greatly received.
Thanks, Nick
He lives broad and sees child/children 2 a year (10-15days)
As two years ago she withheld £4000 from court agreed settlement (what she says she would've been entitled too in the divorce - but she agreed not to pursue in return for me signing house over in return for a cash settlement. (All which was agreed and signed in Court divorce order) I didn't make a fuss as it had taken 8yrs to get any money she owed me, but never forget either.
Since our sepeartion and last 11years I've made voluntary payments on time every month, without failure. There has been no requirement for the old CSA system to get in involved.
Many thanks
PHIL - 27-Jan-17 @ 4:19 PM
I use the new child maintenance service. It would seem as if my ex husband has increased his pension payments so the child support payments reduce. He now pays over £14,000 into his private pension scheme. I have asked for a mandatory re consideration but I have been told that I would have to provide evidence. It's seems there is a loophole as pension payments can be increased so that the amount of child support can be reduced. I'm at a total loss of what to do here as my payments have dramatically decreased. Any advice would be very much appreciated.
The CMS state they will disregard this consent order from the court., as the child support Act states they can. I can find any part of this act that has a stautory instrument that can over arch the original consent order. They have told me if I do not pay from my very small weekly pension they will take it by direct collection. I think this action is unlawful. The attorney general said only three days ago that no government department is above the rule of law. Could you help as I think I have caused a real problem for the CMS in this issue. Alot of parents now settle child support at court for the life of the chikdren. So how can you do this when a new agency steps in and uses guidline policy to run rough shot through any legal divorce agreement that was in force years before it was created. Please where do I stand if anyone can help. No one has had a similar issue after months trying to find information. Thank you Phil
I sent 5 yrs p60 13 months payslips
To no avail P60 in their eyes is not proof of income
I had to call HMRC 2 mins later they confirmed correct info
After another call to CMA told get letter from HMRC as proof
Been trying to get correct payment as I have always paid but due to another tax it jumped from £280 a month to £570 a month
God forgive bloody politicians that passed this rule
Willing to pay but new family will suffer
House will be up for sale
Might jack job in
Go on benefits
Plus threats of xtra 20% charges
God give me strength
My ex husband has now retired as a police officer with a good pension and a monthly wage .... he's just halved my maintenance payment so I have gone through csa ...... will they take into account his pension and his monthly salary
I am currently employed but not receiving any salary as I have been off sick. I have received pay until Dec 2016 and have been paying my child maintenance, however I am not being paid anymore and cannot afford to pay my child maintenance at the moment. I spoke to child maintenance services and they said i have to give them 12 weeks notice and I still need to pay them in the interim, can you please help as this is not possible at the moment?
Thank you
Reading the article above it states that earnings are funds taken into account after deductions via CSA. The new Child maintenance Service (CMS) take the Gross salary into account and will not entertain deductions. By the time my husbands deductions have come off his salary he is around £1000 per month less yet the CMS system won't take that into account and he is still expected to pay an amount based on his gross even though he has a new baby at home to consider. How is that a fair system?
And just to be clear, my husband has had a family based arrangement for over 7 years, always has his children and never missed a payment but his Ex wife had another baby to another partner then used the CMS service by lying and stating my husband never pays. We have years of proof of payment & sleeping rota arrangements and they just wouldn't accept it as evidence. It's like he is now being punished for making an amicable paying arrangement with is ex and not involving legal processes. I'm at my wits end and keep going round in circles with this service trying to get a fair decision. Help!!
Is it right that either the old CSA system or the new CMS system would use this in their calculations.. I don't benefit one penny from the car and I don't get to choose if I want it or not, it's not something I could refuse in exchange for extra money??
Please help me understand.
Thankyou.
I am serving member of the RAF paying child support via the CMS for one child, although this is not subject to a maintenance order.
Next year I will be eligible for a commitment bonus. It will be the only bonus I receive in my career and will count as taxable income.
I've read elsewhere that regular bonuses are taken into accoubt but that one off payments often aren't, however, nobody can give me a definitive answer. Therefore, can you tell me if the CMS are likely to include this when calculating how much I should pay in child support?
Thanks.
Matthew
Recently i have suffered loss of earning due to a car accident, which wasn't my fault.
I used to sacrifice a part of my pay(£243) for childcare voucher. Now while calculating the loss of earning my solicitor is unwilling to consider this £243 as a part of my salary.
Is that correct?
Can the CMS use my lump sum as a source of income or can they only use my pension for their calculations?
Likewise, if I take an additional £40k tax free lump sum out of my occupational pension, what maintenance will need to be paid?
Jona
Thanks
Jo
Well what I want to do is put away a lump sum of say £50,000 to £150,000 into a savings account so that when he reaches say 16, 18 or 21 or break it up so that he gets 25% at 16 25% at 18 and the other 50% at 21 when he is more mature. I am asking if she can put in for a claim because I would rather put the money away securely rather than let her flit it away on crap.
I am not saying she is a incapable mum but I just want to make sure my son gets the start in life many can dream of. I lived a povish childhood and didn't have any holidays over seas it was the occasional visit to Cleethorpes or Skegness.
I would rather put the money into an account safe for when he is older that no one can get their hands on. But am worried because she is asking me questions at the moment about how much my claim is worth. I know as soon as I have been payed out she will try and cash in. If she tries to claim money for my son through maintenance would she have a legal leg to stand on? If I was to prove that I had set aside money for his future would that be taken into account or would they simply say I have to pay for the here and now. Obviously I would still buy him clothes take him on a holiday etc but am worried she is seeing (£)(£) in her eyes. Sorry its long but I aint no good at explaining. Thanks for any info.
I done my research. If i apply child maintenance through REMO to collect money from him. The trouble is, i don't know which country he moved to. If he moved abroad with his UK passport and flyed on plane, will the UK government be able to find out which country he moved to? Will it cost me anything to apply REMO from my local magistrates court?
I found it very easy to contact the CMS to arrange child maintenance when he disagree with a family based arrangement. Will applying through REMO be as straight forward as CMS? Thanks, Sue
i've been unable to work for the last 12 months due to illness claiming ESA. The reason for my illness is currently going through courts, if i am paid for loss of earnings, both retrospectively and future, where will i stand with the child support payments? Ive been ordered to pay £0 per month but have been managing £40 per month so far.
Thanks.
Pardon my horrid English, but I hope you understand what I am trying to say.
I have this troubling situation. The case is that I have a friend who is unemployed and therefore unable to pay any support for his ex. However, I live abroad and would like him to visit me this summer. I would pay his flights and upkeep. He refuses my offer because he's afraid his ex - and the court - would think _he_ is the one having money to travel abroad and do things he shouldn't afford. Naturally no money would even visit any his account as it is possible to book and pay flights for other people.
So, is there any way I could enjoy his company for a couple of weeks so that it wouldn't anyhow interfere with the existing CSA agreement/decision? Also, is he even allowed to travel abroad for any reason?
Thanks in advance.
My soon to be ex husband currently pays for our son, and does whatever amount the CMS say is correct
But I happen to know that he could get a lot of money left to him via a will and possible sale of a house.
The case is still open and I'll be keeping it open for a while so will CMS deem that as income and my son gets a percentage ? I am new to all of this so not really sure where to start! I know CMS will annually review his income
My son needs some costly equipment which is why I ask...
Many thanks
Much appreciate any help.
I provided details to the CSA of my income and expenditure as requested, I live with my parents as my ex partner is in our home, I pay my parents £50.00 p.w. in cash on a Friday for housekeeping (not including food) but the CSA don't seem happy with this and seem to want to dispute it. How can my parents prove this, I don't have a bank account at present and I am paid cash by my employer each week.
Thanks for any advice
I am going through a tribunal appeal against my ex (NRP). He has investments and capital in excess of £64,000 which he has not disclosed to CSA. He increased his pension contribution to 17% shortly after our separation. His pension pot is in excess of 150k. He is collecting Childcare vouchers from his employer and is not contributing towards my child's childcare costs. He does not have any other children. He has been doing this over the period of 2 years.
How will the judge assess the variation in Pension increase, capital disclosure and childcare? Does anyone have experience of something similar?
Thank you
I will be retiring in a couple of years and will receive a full Police pension. Will the pension be classed as an income by the CSA?
I have only started paying child maintenance through the CSA (CMS) but have been paying less for the last 4 years. The child is 8. Can the CSA (CMS) enforce retroactive payment for the whole life of the child, or only since the request from the mother to have an assesement?
Thanks and regards
I need some advise regarding the figure that the CMA have received from the HMRC, can the CMA take the figure they have received from them if it includes an statutory redundancy payment.
The figure they have is way above my normal gross salary amount and it will potentially put me into arrears with my joint mortgage and debt plan that I currently have with my ex.
I hope you can help.
Thanks
How are my CSA payments calculated??
This is classed as tax free except 2 months wages in lieu.
Will the CSA only take payments from my 2 months wages as set in my schedule or can they take from my tax free redundancy settlement?
She is also insisting on me ceding all rights to the property and walk away without any property share. I am planning on getting 50% custody of my kids to reduce maintenance payments- Is this possible.
Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
I have recently moved in with my new partner and now rent out my own house. I do not make any profit on this as it just covers just the outgoings for that house.
Can this rent be counted as extra income for me and thus added to my salary to calculate maintenance?
I have tried to fight the Judgement but with no support from the UK I had to seek a Barrister, this resulted in all counter offers being rejected and I am now being threatened with being arrested for non fulfilment of a Court Order.
What must I do to pay a fair amount and have access to my children with an agreement that is practical, achievable and sustainable so I can enjoy my life with children??
My Salary is £39k per annum living near London so no millionaire!
Thank you.
My child has started full time school which I have offered financial support towards there uniform and any future school trips or school costs
i have offered to have them stay over three nights a week where I will drop at school in the morning during the week have for dinner and return home the other two nights and have alternate sat and Sunday's as usual but she has refused demanding money
I return him home in his pjs and pull-ups and have a full wardrobe for him toys etc (he could literally turn up naked and everything is here for him)
Yet my ex partner seems to believe I owe her a form of child maintenance
What's everyone's views
Just briefly, my ex has recently received a very large lump sum of money (hundreds of thousands of pounds). She is not working and has not worked for years. She refuses to pay any child support and the CMA have said she does not have to pay me anything - due to having "no income". Clearly, someone with a huge amount of money in the bank does not need to work and has no intention of it. There are arrears which are being pursued but I am told I have no options in terms of getting support for my children who I have full custody of. Does anyone have any ideas as to how I can pursue the money I need to support my children?
Thanks in advance.
He retires in 5 years and is due a considerable lump sum. Will the CSA want a share of this to be given to his ex wife?
My ex is a professional dancer and is the lead in a very high profile production for Matthew Bourne. He features on all the posters and is earning a significant salary but has claimed he is earning £16k a year and paying £25 a week.
At the end of the day its a one of lump sum,which wont be taxed.
Many thanks
child maintenance? I'm currently unemployed and so pay no CM. If I work for a couple of weeks how would the CMO asses CM? If they assessed it as a regular income then I would end up paying too much over time, possibly more than I earned. The calculation should be the amount of CM payable for those two weeks only, but I suspect they wouldn't do it that way. Could anyone please explain?
If I earn £400 gross and I have £100 expenses, the expenses are deducted before tax & NI, so I get taxed * NI on £300, please can you help
please can someone clear up on the new CMS if the paying parent claims working tax credits and child tax credits for his 2 children he has with a new partner do these count as income and a % get given to his ex?
Thanks
Thanks in advance.
many thanks
Be angry at the system, not the caseworker - There is set procedures to follow, listen to what they say and act upon it - The more you contact them the better it is for you, believe me, it shows compliancy - Always hold payment to the side if they/you do not have the Receiving parents bank details, itll bit you in the arse if you dont and be fired onto your arrears - Always ask for regular updates on your payment schedule and ask to be sent one when you feel necessary - there is not a lot to it in order to send one.
Just please be patient and understanding and they will too. There is set laws, policies and procedures that have to be followed, it is not that caseworkers fault although you may think it. Majority of the time its the legislation that has screwed you over, or you screwed yourself over, if offered a negotiation on your arrears, do it. If offered to set up a direct debit, do it otherwise it will be coming out of your wage.
I no this because the school tell me he gets upset when he noes his mum is picking him up, she works and claims credits, she has loans that she took out to pay of her debts from buying clothes and shoes , she has demanded 1000 for rent or she said she will be out on the street, I just paid her it, .want to get joint custody of our son as it is mutual agreement , should I do this, and she also threatens me with the csa all the time, I am tired of her keep threating me
Some one give me some advice please
If I keep my name off the birth certificate does that have any effect on my maintenance payments?
i worked hard for 23 years to get to the position i have myself in now, and all the CSA want to do is screw me over.... im not saying all women are the same, but she made it awkward for me to see them and told me she was moving away and gave me an address to where they was moving, did they move, NO... a compulsive liar
Found D though living the high life with rich woman, goes on multiple holidays each year, two or more so far this year, never sees his kids but wants to now just for weekends 2-3 times a year away from where he lives.
D gave up his well paid job, doing up a property that his new rich woman owes, thus he has no income, estimated costs of work with the planners £150,000 alone.
How much should he pay towards his two sons (15 & 11) that he wants to see at a moment's notice. CSA useless told me to report him for past tax fraud and they will be able to lock him up. Won't be of use to me would it?
Just want my boys to go to the pictures, have a couple of days on the beach each year, a little pocket money. I am trapped as if I go back to work, I'll have to pay my rent, I can't win. His rich family don't bother with the kids either.
Just want to disappear and lick my wounds, but know that wouldn't be fair on kids.
I have my daughter 2 days per week.
I have now lost my job.
The daughters mother works full time as does her partner that liv with them.
Am I entitled to claim 2 days CSA from the mother now ?
Later this year I will turn 55 and it may be the case that my small pension fund (SIPP) could be worth enough to take a drawdown to buy a business and start earning money again.
My question is :-
Would the drawdown lump sum be liable for deductions by the CSA ie classed as income or would it be exempt? It may be that I would have enough to buy a house and gain security- same question?
try to get more or pay less than they should.
The issue I have is, lets say the calculator gives a figure of £600 a month. Does my daughter actually cost that much to keep? If you take the generally held view that a child costs £90000 to bring up, from birth to 16/17. That's between £5000/£6000 per year. Why should I pay over £7000 per year in maintenance? For a start, my daughter is both of ours, we both have a responsibility so surely, if we can both afford it, we should both equally contribute? Let's say we both have a household income of £70000, we should both contribute to our childrens upbringing equally. If my ex was destitute then fine, I should help out more; I can afford it, she can't. But that isn't the case. My ex and her now husband have (I believe) a higher household income than my partner and I. If the new cars and multiple holidays per year are anything to go by I think they're doing pretty well. And I don't begrudge them that, even given shall we say, the circumstances of how they got together, etc. The reality is, if they hadn't have "met" shall we say, I would not now be with my wonderful partner and wouldn't have the family, "old" children and "new" that I now have.
So let's say I pay this £600 per month, how much of that do you think will actually be spent, directly or otherwise on my daughter and how much will go towards the next new car and holiday? That might sound resentful and I'll be honest, if the calculation is such that it generates a figure above what is 1. needed and 2. fair then I am resentful!
Anyway, I've tried to be fair; I'm happy to pay a half share of my daughters essentials, I'm happy to give her money directly (so I can be sure she at least seems something) I'm not happy that my ex seems to think she has no further responsibility to her son but there you go, I'll have to live with that I guess.
The reality is the rules need to change;
The FULL HOUSEHOLD incomes of ALL parties should be considered. Yes, I know many on here have decried that but it's the only fair way. It is simply unfair for an already wealthy parent to extract more from an ex-parter than is necessary or fair. If household incomes are equal, so should the contribution be. If one party is richer, they should bear the majority of the burden.
Scrap the CSA. It's had lots of time to work smarter and it doesn't. It is lazy in thinking it can apply a blanket calculation to all scenarios. As with anything "the one size fits all theory" never actually does. My (radical) suggestion is that both parties PAY for an independent party to conduct a thorough review of each parties finances and assist in mediating an agreement, where it cannot be agreed, a body be set up to make judgement based on the findings of the review. Where cases cannot be agreed, an adjudicating body be organised to decide, based on the facts presented in the independent review. If this approach achieves one thing it will be to weedle out both claimants and payers who frivolously
8 years have past and have struggled with no help from him.
I sent a letter to him about 2 mths ago as my daughter wanted to meet him but with no reply, due to my daughter growing up things are getting more expensive now i have decided to contact the CSA. They found him on the system and told me the process, i am a bit unsure if i have done the right thing going through the CSA, also do i need to keep chasing them?
I'm really worked up at the moment because of this set of incompetent idiots! My husband recieved a letter from the CSA today after a reassessment of his finances. He has paid £40 a month for the last 5 years for his 2 children, this was the amount the CSA told him to pay at the original assessment. My husband was never married to his partner and has fought her in court for the last 3-4 years to be able to see his daughters. We only met just over 2 years ago and got married last year, And I love his daughters to bits and they love me too . I am disabled but my benefits cannot be taken into account because Im on contribution based (I worked 32 years fulltime before I could no longer work). They put his payments up to £45 a week and was being backed dated to December last year, he rang them to find out why the arrears. My husband explained he would pay the new amount but as he only comes home with £800 a month it woud be impossible to find a £1000,00 plus. He was then imformed that even though he had paid what he was told he actually owed £7,500.00 in arrears!!! And they are going to take £267 a month now which there is no way on this earth we can afford and this is down to very bad work practices of the CSA and not my husbands fault, he would have paid the correct amount if he had been told it 5 years ago. Im just wondering if anyone could help please, surely they cant demand he pays for their incompetence????. They actually told him it was his employers fault, how the hell they worked that one out I dont know. I really dont know if we can afford to stay together anymore and its heartbreaking. His ex actually had me investigated by the police and social services 3 weeks after we got married because she and her mother forced my stepdaughters to say I had assaulted them with my walking stick!!!!!!!. Thankfully the police and social services realised it was a pack of lies as the girls stories kept changing. I have a fantastic relationship with them
Fedup123
YOU PWC ARE JUST A LOAD OF GREEDY %t£&£("("
Everything was amicable until recently when I informed her my new partner was pregnant. Now all contact has been broken. This has all happened recently and I of course hope that things will calm down and I can have access to my little girl again.
I was previously travelling out once a month to spend a wkd there sleeping on her sofa but now that hospitality will no longer be available. The costs of paying 15% of my salary (which is an agreement between me and my ex) plus the travelling costs have been killing me. If I now have to pay to stay in a hotel as well I will not be able to afford to see my little girl at all or at least not as often. It is all ready hard for my little getting used to me each visit as she is only 18 month old as it is and without regular Skype access as well I fear that she may not even remember me.
I have no objections paying towards the up bringing of my daughter and would love to pay more but my finances simply won't allow it.
Has anyone any help or advice because i am worried sick?
I was asked about my partner earnings also, yet they do not ask or take into consideration my ex's income. Afetr I pay my rent and usal bills i am now left with less to live on a week than I pay in CSA. I might as well give up work sit on my backside and claim benifits like most of the mothers are all ready doing.
My husband has 2 children from his first marriage and we have 2 together. We are seriously struggling to make ends meet. We both work and received working tax credits and child tax credits (which assit us with childcare as our children are under 5). If we were to loose 20% of his earnings and 20% of our tax credits we would soon end up missing mortgage payments, nursery bills etc etc. We would end up homeless and jobless and would need to turn to the social services for somewhere to live, unemployment benefit, council tax benefit and all other benefits that homeless, jobless people with children are entitled to. This would end up costing the governement and therefore the taxpayer a great deal more than the small amount we receive in tax credits.
The only solution I can see if the CSA does decide to take all of this money from myself, my children and my husband is for my husband to leave us. How can it be right for another set of children to grow up without a resident father? How can it be right for my children to go without for his ex wife (who was given the house, has tax credits and a job) to take from us?
If my ex is moving in with his new gf and they have no dependents living with them, do the CSA take into account his GF earnings
Cheers
Children are in a shared care arrangement where they are (out of 100 nights) 42 with dad and 58 with mum.
It seems that the maintenance payments are calculated purely on income and so its a double whammy for the worse off party. One side gets full maintenance and a free house (and therefore a fantastic standard of living, better than during the marriage!) and the other has to fund housing and pay full maintenance.
Surely the free housing has to be taken into account when calculating the maintenance as the biggest cost of most households has been saved on one side and exacerbated on the other?!
In my case this has basically enabled my ex to take a career break whereas I am totally insolvent. Surely something is wrong here?!
Children are not, and shouldn't be treated, as pay per view by either parent.They have a right to be raised by both parents and maintained by both parents.
If you pay currently through the CSA and you are finding matters difficult then ask for a re-assessment or appeal the decision.
They have added this monthly addition to my regular pay and say that I need to have this included as Net Pay stating that this is taxable income
The amount is over £5,000 per year so make a big diference to how much I am expected to pay
I have pointed out twice that i believe they are incorrect (as this sum is not cash merely a tax correcting adjusment) but they are just ignoring me and stating that this is within their legislation
Are they correct?
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