Off Sick - Should I still pay child maintenance?

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As the title.

I'm currently receiving Statutory Sick pay as I've been off for the past 2 1/2 weeks, and signed off for a further 3 weeks due to a recent operation.

Normally, I pay my ex £45 per week for my daughters maintenance.

Am I right in assuming that whilst I'm effectively living off the state, I don't have to pay the ex? - its not a matter of not wanting to, I simply don't have the spare cash at the moment.

My bills (Rent,Gas, Electric etc) still want paying etc and I'm going to be in arrears with them when I eventually go back to work, which brings me onto the second part of my question,

Do I have to pay my ex back any arrears I have "built up" so to speak whilst I've been off sick?

Thanks in advance. :)
 
As the title.

I'm currently receiving Statutory Sick pay as I've been off for the past 2 1/2 weeks, and signed off for a further 3 weeks due to a recent operation.

Normally, I pay my ex £45 per week for my daughters maintenance.

Am I right in assuming that whilst I'm effectively living off the state, I don't have to pay the ex? - its not a matter of not wanting to, I simply don't have the spare cash at the moment.

My bills (Rent,Gas, Electric etc) still want paying etc and I'm going to be in arrears with them when I eventually go back to work, which brings me onto the second part of my question,

Do I have to pay my ex back any arrears I have "built up" so to speak whilst I've been off sick?

Thanks in advance. :)

You need to call your regional CSA office and explain that you need them to do an emergency reassessment due to a change in your circumstances. You will have to pay something (and rightly so) but it will be vastly reduced.

HTH.
 
I don't pay my ex through the CSA any more, we have an arrangement where I pay her every week as I collect my daughter.

Just wondered where I stand legally.

I agree I should pay for my daughter (and do) trouble is, this week, I've had no pay at all, next week I should get some, but, its very much reduced compared to what I normally get.

Thanks for the reply btw. :)
 
Is your ex not an understanding person? if she is just talk to her about it and tell her dont have the cash to pay her.
 
you seem to be good terms with you ex since your dealing with this between you and not through the state. so i'd say you best bet is just to talk to her and ask her to understand your position and as soon as your back on your feet it' go back up to what should pay. if she still doesnt buy it you can always say your'll give a 10 back extra once your back on your feet to make up the missing cash.
 
you seem to be good terms with you ex since your dealing with this between you and not through the state. so i'd say you best bet is just to talk to her and ask her to understand your position and as soon as your back on your feet it' go back up to what should pay. if she still doesnt buy it you can always say your'll give a 10 back extra once your back on your feet to make up the missing cash.

Were on great terms as long as I'm agreeing to her point of view...... :rolleyes: :D

I'll be talking to her, but wanted to know where I stand prior to me speaking to her, she won't like it, of that I'm quite sure.
 
'The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world'

Sad, but so very true! :D

Sad, but true. Try to reason with her, offer her 15% of your sick pay. If that's not acceptable then tell her to go to the CSA, they wouldn't even offer her that.

I was thinking along those lines, hope to God I don't have to get those gits involved again, I've had them (the CSA) in my affairs before, not something that I ever want again!

Cheers.
 
I was led to believe that your Child payments come before Everything including your Morgage & Anything else. If that is true then your Child payments will have to be paid No matter what.
 
I was led to believe that your Child payments come before Everything including your Morgage & Anything else. If that is true then your Child payments will have to be paid No matter what.

They do. But they're based (at least in part) on your income. If your income drops then your contributions drop also.

Contact the ex, explain the situation, make a reasonable offer. Not a lot else you can do.
 
I was led to believe that your Child payments come before Everything including your Morgage & Anything else. If that is true then your Child payments will have to be paid No matter what.

No one is suggesting that he doesn't pay. I have made it clear to him that he should.

As the father of one child, his liability in respect of his child is 15% of his net salary. This is what I have suggested he pays.
 
I was led to believe that your Child payments come before Everything including your Morgage & Anything else. If that is true then your Child payments will have to be paid No matter what.

I normally pay her £45 per wk, with an average earning of £400 per week which I feel isn't bad. - I also have my daughter to stay at weekends, which obviously, costs me as well. I begrudge none of this let me make that quite clear.

Thus far, I've had my last full wage from my employer, in which case, I paid her the normal £45, last week I got paid only one day as I worked the Monday, had my Op on the Tuesday, despite this, last week I still paid her the normal £45.

This week, as my sick pay has not been processed by my employers, I've got £0 as far as I'm aware - I'll check tomorrow as Friday is my normal pay day - She's going to get £0 as I simply don't have it.

Next week, I've been told to expect circa £80 odd, not a lot, I'm thinking of offering her £15..... ? Fair? - If I get more / less I'd adjust accordingly.

benneh, Thanks for the sentiment mate, not much improvement alas, and its getting more uncomfortable rather than less! :(


Cheers for the comments peeps. :)
 
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Obviously I dont know you personal circumstances, and you may be paying her mortgage as well etc, but 10% of your weekly salary isnt very much really, so I'd have thought you'd have savings etc to cover the fact you missed a weeks work? Failing that, cant you pay her £90 next week or whatever? Whilst I sympathise with your predicament, its two weeks to xmas, so your ex will be spending on all the things that mums have to spend on at this time a year. I know with our two its one thing after another at the moment - tickets for nativity plays, school trips to carol concerts, obviously presents etc etc.

I just think if you've been earning £400 a week for god knows how long, a one week loss of salary ahouldnt make it impossible to pay £45 :/
 
IF you're off sick, or if you're claiming JSA, you STILL have to pay the minimum weekly payment.

It's between £4.70 - £5.10 per week. I can't give an exact figure as they change their minds every day, but you do have to pay something, simple as that.
 
Yep, the csa will assess 15% of your after tax income - effectively your take home - subject to a minimum of about £5 a week (I'm currently on 24% since I'm on the 'old' scheme...and I'll stop there before I start ranting:mad: )
 
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