Hi all
I have a child support question, which I'm hoping you might be able to answer. My husband has 4 kids from previous marriage - x20, 18 and 15. We have 2 kids together and are one really big family! The 3 elder kids lived predominantly with us for the last 8 or so years, whilst the youngest was every second weekend (due to his young age). We've always paid full child support, all sport fees, school fees, uniform fees etc. My youngest stepson's living conditions changed and it became no longer possible for him to live with his mum due to her partner and he has lived with us since May 2019.
His mum updated child support agency and when we logged in to check some details a few weeks back, noticed that the care arrangement still had her as every second weekend. She actually hasn't seen her son since May.
New school year is approaching and my husband sent her a polite message about school fees, uniform, laptop, camps - and just seeing whether she'd like to contribute. Her response is 'not really'. We'll obviously provide everything before the start of the school year (already bought stationary, laptop etc)... If we are a couple earning between $65,000 and $56,000 each, is it worthwhile even applying for child support? Or do we just take it on the chin and take care of everything?
No, I'm not an evil stepmother. Apart from childcare rebate, we've never really had any dealing with centrelink/child support.
8 Replies
Honestly I wouldn’t even bother. Fathers are made to pay to the point they don’t have enough money left to be able to live properly and mothers seem to be able to get away with out paying a cent. Just cop it on the chin and leave it. But it definitely shows what I loving caring parent she is if she doesn’t want to contribute to her son, but I’m sure she definitely expected it from you guys
Apply for CSA to collect on your husbands behalf, or does she have no income? You also don't need to wait for her to change it, your husband could have done it. He just needs to ring them, they will ring her to confirm and if she agrees it's easy, they change it then and there. If she disagrees then you have to fill out a change of care form and get proof he's living with you, then they review it and make their decision. We have been through it 100 times with partners ex who keeps changing care %, including once when stepson stayed at his brothers for school holidays so she changed husbands percentage from 80% to 0%💁🏻😂. Funny thing about that was she didn't even have him the 20% she claimed but we just let her go.
Just for anyone that thinks CSA is all for women its not gender biased at all it's based on income. The only reason why some Mums get away with paying is because they don't get made to pay by their ex. Same with some Dads not being made to pay.
I would be having child support updated to reflect the actual circumstances. Your income is not included in the assessment. She should be made to pay! Even if it's the bare minimum.
Absolutely apply for child support, she’s sounds a bit dead beat tbh and has practically picked a man over her child. Which is all ways says deadbeat to me. You may not get anything at all but she should be contributing to her child’s upbringing. Takes 2 to make a baby and a village to raise one. She hasn’t seen him since last May which is terrible. I couldn’t imagine letting my child go and live with his dad and not having any visits with him at all.
I'm the poster. I would fight tooth and nail for my child. I cannot fathom a mum leaving her kid behind. No bday presents, no Xmas presents! I'm both astounded and angry. 3 older kids have no contact with her anymore so at least I know it's not us!
I would at the very least make sure the care arrangements are accurately reflected with child support and Centrelink. You are paying her money that isn’t owed to her.
You don’t technically apply for child support once you are in the system, it’s worked out on percentages of care and earnings. If she earns nothing she will pay nothing in Child support.
It’s been my experience that they don’t/won’t update when the change does not affect the payable. For example my children went from 1 night per fortnight to nil. I have reported it over the app, website, phone and in writing. On all occasions they have refused stating they don’t have to due to it not changing the payment amount. I disagree asi think it should reflect the actual arrangements but nothing has been done.
If she is paying the current amount set by CSA then unfortunately she’s under no obligation to contribute any further.
Morally wrong but doesn’t sound like she gives a shit.
Don’t waste too much emotion on it.
Phone child support and get the care arrangements amended. Like others have said it goes on the bio parents income only - so what you earn doesn't matter. The amount is also calculated taking into account all bio children of your husbands. You sound really supportive of all kids, well done!