Myth No.3: I have to use the CSA to arrange child maintenance.
The CSA will only ever become involved at the request of a parent.
If both parents agree, they can choose to either:
• make a private agreement and sort out child maintenance between themselves
• go through the courts and put a Consent Order in place
Bear in mind, the CSA can’t arrange child maintenance for you during the first 12 months of a Consent Order
Myth No. 2: I never see my kids so I don’t have to pay child maintenance.
Like it or not, in the eyes of the law, access to or contact with your kids is a separate issue from the payment of child maintenance.
But most dads would agree that the most important thing is the welfare of the child. What’s more, research has shown that paying child maintenance often leads to an improvement in the quality of family relationships.
So, even if you can’t see your kids as much as you’d like to, you can – and should – still contribute to their upbringing by paying child maintenance regularly.
Over the next few days we’ll be posting a number of myths about child maintenance.
Myth No. 1: It makes no difference if I pay child maintenance or not.
Child Maintenance is regular, reliable financial support that helps towards a child’s everyday living expenses. It covers the cost of things like food and clothes, and providing a home for your child.
An effective child maintenance arrangement can make a significant difference to a child’s well-being, because it can help create a more stable environment for them.
What’s more, research shows that the more their father is interested and involved in their life, the more children are likely to do well at school, stay out of trouble and develop self esteem and healthier relationships as an adult.
Are you a separated parent claiming state benefits?
Did you know that now you can choose how you arrange child maintenance?
Even if you are claiming state benefits you don’t have to use the Child Support Agency (CSA). You and the other parent have the freedom to choose what is best for you, including setting up your own arrangement, known as a family-based arrangement (sometimes called a private or voluntary arrangement).
So why is this you might ask? In the past, parents with the main-day-to-day care who were on benefits had to apply through the CSA, and any child maintenance they got would reduce their benefits.
But now you can choose how you arrange child maintenance even if you’re on benefits.
Better still, any money you get for child maintenance won’t affect any state benefits you’re entitled to. You get to keep your benefits and your child maintenance.
For more information about state benefits or child maintenance visit www.direct.gov.uk which has lots of useful information for separated parents.
We’ve previously talked about the benefits a family-based arrangement can give you and your family. This includes having the freedom to make your own decisions about how the arrangement works and not limiting the arrangement to just making or receiving money.
Many parents like that a family-based arrangement doesn’t involve paperwork, especially as a CSA arrangement can involve lots of form filling and often takes time to set up.
If you and the other parent don’t like the hassle of paperwork but still want to formalise your family-based arrangement there are easy ways to do this.
If you decide to pay or receive money for child maintenance, setting up a standing order is one way to ensure the payments are made in full, on time and recorded on paper. If you agree to use cheques or cash you might want to keep written records of all payments.
Because a family-based arrangement can include other things such as buying your child essential items, you could also keep the receipts.
This doesn’t mean that you don’t trust the other parent though. It’s just one way of helping you keep on top of your arrangement and shows how you and the other parent are committed to working together to support your children.
It could also help you consider what has been paid or received since setting up the arrangement. If you and the other parent want to make changes or you are not happy with how things are going you will have a record you can use to agree a new arrangement.
If you are a parent who has a family-based arrangement and like to keep a record of what you’ve agreed, we’d like to hear from you.
Tell us how it works by leaving a comment below.
Love it or hate it, Christmas comes around every year – sometimes quicker than we’d like. Anyone with a family will know just how much there is to think about. What presents to buy? What to cook for Christmas lunch? Who to invite? Who not to invite?
But what if you and the other parent need to think about how you will provide for your children during the Christmas break? A family-based arrangement is intended to last throughout the year, whatever the season or occasion, but this doesn’t mean you can’t make changes if you and the other parent want to. It just means thinking about how the arrangement will work and both agreeing to any changes.
For example, there might be something you or the other parent need to do or provide for your children at this time, especially as Christmas can be expensive. You might decide that you will pay or receive less or more to cover those extra costs.
Christmas is often stressful for families. When you’re separated, it’s only natural that you might not agree straight away on what’s best for the children during this time. This could include who your children spend Christmas with.
Many parents living apart from their child feel child maintenance should be linked to how often they’re able to spend time with them. This is not something recognised in child maintenance or family law. Providing financial support does not automatically allow the other parent contact with your child.
However, a family-based arrangement could include you and the other parent spending time with your children if you both agree that this is best for you all. Most children benefit from having positive relationships with both parents, wherever they live.
So while it might be difficult to do, talking about contact arrangements with the child’s other parent could be helpful for everyone. If this feels like you or your situation then mediation can be a less confrontational way of working through issues. More information about mediation can be found on the National Family Mediation website: www.nfm.org.uk
We’ve also shared a previous post about our discussion guide which could help you talk to the other parent. You can download the discussion guide using the links in our tools and leaflets section.
What arrangement do you have with the other parent at Christmas? How do you make it work?
Share your thoughts with others by leaving a comment below
Child Maintenance Options has teamed up with the new Netmums Separation Advice Clinic. If you have a question about child maintenance then perhaps Sarah, our Child Maintenance Options consultant, can answer it. You can visit the clinic by visiting the following link:
Unfortunately Sarah cannot answer any questions relating to a specific CSA case.
Want to talk to Child Maintenance Options? You can now arrange a call back by texting us. Simply text OPTIONS to 66644 and we’ll do the rest!
SMS texts will be charged at your standard network rate.
