what exactly does child maintenance cover?

[superdoofer]

please help!!

im in the middle of sorting out my divorce and my son's dad is argueing over how much to pay for child maintenance - he reckons i am asking for too much and wants to know what this money is actually for!

im not completely sure either! is it for food and clothing? anything else?

any help/advice would be greatly appreciated
thanks!

[innocenti]

It is for the general living expenses of having a child. Food, clothes, toys, school trips, sweets, luxuries, bedding, washing powder and even towards things like heating and lighting.

As a rule of thumb it would be 20% of your ex's wages for maintenance.

[johnny37]

I believe the CSA rule is 15% of net income after deduction of tax, NI and pension payments. Housing costs are not allowable and neither are travelling expenses to see the child, nor anything else that an estranged parent has to pay for like treats when they have access. As far as I know there is no maximum but he can deduct a pro rata portion if he has the child for 52 nights or more during the year (eg once a week). Check with a CSA advisor (in the phone book). He cannot tell you how to spend it. If travelling is involved it might soften his attitude if you agree to meet halfway and share the expense.

[Pippa68]

As far as I am aware pension payments are not allowable but housing costs are...at least that is the way it is working in our case!