What does Child Support Cover the cost of?

[2CheekyMonkeys]

i agree peg

[Lulu]

With all due respect to Hollo and Peg - sometimes CSA doesn't even cover the basics.
Asking the other parent to pay only HALF of a child's activities really isn't asking too much, it's for the benefit of the children.

[MeganH]

I thought it was fair to ask for half of the extra activities they do. After looking at the csa website I believe as they get older the percentage will increase as children cost more as they get older. Does anyone have an idea how much public schooling will cost me? I believe I will be getting a school card and have been told it shouldnt cost much at all.

If you havent guessed, I am quiet new to all this stuff. Ive never been through anything like this before, never had to go to centrelink etc etc we only just separated in January and Ive always worked until May last year before I had DD2. Stuff knows where Id fit work into my day at the moment, I take my hat off to single parents who work and care for their children full time.

[Peg]

I thought it was fair to ask for half of the extra activities they do. After looking at the csa website I believe as they get older the percentage will increase as children cost more as they get older. Does anyone have an idea how much public schooling will cost me? I believe I will be getting a school card and have been told it shouldnt cost much at all.

If you havent guessed, I am quiet new to all this stuff. Ive never been through anything like this before, never had to go to centrelink etc etc we only just separated in January and Ive always worked until May last year before I had DD2. Stuff knows where Id fit work into my day at the moment, I take my hat off to single parents who work and care for their children full time.

It wont be easy for you, but if you have a good relationship with your ex maybe you should draw up a parenting plan and come to an agreement on how the finances for the kids will be organized. he might agree to pay a little extra.

otherwise your option is to go thru CSA and they will base the amount of maintenance on his income. You should also get the parenting payment if you are a single parent now...that will likely be close to $400 per week with 2 children. You can claim rent assistence too.

[Pandora]

I'm with lulu. If dh and I were to split tomorrow he wouldn't have to pay me anything at all.
I don't think most people expect the dad to pay for everything just make a fair contribution based on what they can afford, andbe honest in declaring their income. I don't think the current system is fair at all, but I also don't know how to fix it.

[Cupcake]

I think what they were saying is while it may not be fair, the person paying the CS doesnt have to pay anymore then their calculated amount.

[Peg]

I'm with lulu. If dh and I were to split tomorrow he wouldn't have to pay me anything at all.
I don't think most people expect the dad to pay for everything just make a fair contribution based on what they can afford, andbe honest in declaring their income. I don't think the current system is fair at all, but I also don't know how to fix it.

Absolutely they should pay a fair contribution.
But a fair contribution doesnt include paying the mums rent and food bills and trips to the salon.

A fair contribution is the kids expenses. School uniforms, excursions, piano lessons, clothing...

Unfortunately, if the dad doesnt work or earns very little, then there isnt much that can be done about that. He simply wont have the money to provide. My ex lost his job back in May last year and i just started getting maintencance again from him in Feb this year. It may seem unfair, but if they arnt earning any money, how can they pay???


The system is very fair in my opinion.

[Lulu]

Peg,

The OP was asking about contributing to the childrens activities - where does mums rent and food bills and trips to the salon come into it?

[Elocin]

where does mums rent and food bills and trips to the salon come into it?

When you're dealing with my DH's ex, that's where!!!

I agree that morally he should pay for half of all activities, but the girls are right... legally, unfortunately, he doesn't have too...

[Peg]

Peg,

The OP was asking about contributing to the childrens activities - where does mums rent and food bills and trips to the salon come into it?

Let me put it this way. for a man earning between 30-40K per annum (a fairly low average wage in australia) he might be required to pay approx $50-$70 per week (or there abouts) for 2 children.

If you put that money aside for the kids expenses, you've got approx $100 a month to contribute towards their expenses. If the mum is also contributing $100 a month on the kiddie fund, then thats $200 a month for the kids. How many children expend more then $200 per month on things like school, clothes, outings, activities?

Surely there must come a point where mums budget the money out and if they dont have enough money for something they wait until they have the money. We can put our kids thru so many activities that it can cost a fortune, but its not up to the ex to pay for them on top of the money he already provides.


I'm not talking about ex's who dont give any money at all...im talking about the ones who pay their req maintenance. Some will be req to pay less due to their lower incomes and thats fair enough... it just means that his kids will not be able to do as much as we might like... wouldnt this be the same senario if you were still with such a partner and the family income was low?

[Pandora]

I never suggested one would want to spend the $ on frivilous things that werent child related. And I dont recall anyone else doing so either.

I do agree with you, that they only have to pay the amount they are legally required to - I just think they arent alwasy legeally required to pay a fair amount.

... wouldnt this be the same senario if you were still with such a partner and the family income was low?

No, not always. If my partner was earning 30-40K and not contributing any of it towards our kids it wouldnt be on whether we were together or not.

[Lulu]

I worked in this area, I don't need it explained to me. The op wasn't asking anything for herself - just the children.
I understand things could possibly go overboard in the activity department and in a perfect world some men would seem to understand how activities like this contribute to the well being of the child.

And since this topic as gone so far off topic anyway - xH 1 has paid for me to go to the salon a few times in the past and xH2 has bought me some beautiful clothes - because they know I spend everything I have on the children and run myself ragged taking care of them

[Peg]

With all due respect to Hollo and Peg - sometimes CSA doesn't even cover the basics.
Asking the other parent to pay only HALF of a child's activities really isn't asking too much, it's for the benefit of the children.

I agree, but legally he doesnt have to. The maintenance is calculated and based on his income. So the more he earns the more he pays (or vise versa) But that money that is means tested is the legal amount...he isnt required to pay anymore.

Morally he certainly should...but the same can be said of the mother. She should be putting some of her own money towards the cost of raising her children. This may not be practical because most mums are not fulltime workers (myself included) so we earn much less then they do. I guess this is why separation and divorce are not the best option and probably should be avoided... much like we are encouraged to avoid having a c-section over a natural birth

[Butterfly Child]

With all due respect to Hollo and Peg - sometimes CSA doesn't even cover the basics.
Asking the other parent to pay only HALF of a child's activities really isn't asking too much, it's for the benefit of the children.

Have to agree with lulu
i mean sometimes its impossible to survive with the cs money you get even for the basics.. i mean 16 dollars a fortnight wont even buy nappies.. enough said their..
Although i know where some of you are coming from i don't agree with the cs system..i don't think its fair at all.. i don't think its fair that xp has never had to contribute anything at all in the way of things for dd since she was born except 16 dollars a fortnight.. i mean luckily i have a supportive family or i don't know where i or dd would be..

i think its fair to say that children's activities should be put into account and maybe a parenting plan could be written up and xp might be willing to pay extra..

(sorry went abit of topic