Child Maintenance & Benefits ~ How does this work?

[Pippa68]

I have put this is in several sections as I am sure the implications stretch across finance, law & family!

My 14 year old stepdaughter has expressed a wish to go
into a shared residency situation with us & her mother. She currently lives with her mother full time and comes to stay with us every other weekend.


Stepdaughter has now decided she would like to split the time right down the middle...two weeks here, two weeks there ~ with holidays also being equally split. We pay maintenance, but would obviously have to rearrange this if my stepdaughter comes to live with us half the time. I have looked on the CSA website & couldn't find any info other than reference to the 'non resident parent being the one who has the shorter amount of time with the child'

How do we go about the financial side..I am not sure if the child support gets cut or done away wth altogether ~ and is child benefit split?

TIA :o)

[johnny37]

Maintenance can be reduced in these circumstances. It is on the CSA website under Calculate Maintenance, Variations, Shared Care. It is a bit ambiguous as it does not say whether or what your wife should pay if the child stays with you, merely that your payments should be reduced In theory if the child spends half the year with you then no maintenance should be paid by either party. Talk to a CSA advisor (number in the telephone book).

[Pippa68]

Thanks johnny!

I did manage to find it on the website (eventually) and as you say it is rather ambiguous..

I shall get Mr Pippa to talk to the CSA ~ not an idea he relishes ;o)