Child maintenance

[allycatz]

Well in my case im having to pay arrears in Child support for a period of time that my kids were in my care. My teens spent a year with their Dad and moved back with me when he shifted to Auckland. All good I rang IRD, arranged family assistance and told Child support on phone kids were back. 18 months later during a three month stint of unemployment, I went on DPB. Therein it gets messy. Someone at IRD decided I had only just got kids back and decided based on my income I hadn't paid enough for them and get a bill for $3k. I ring up and nice lady says 'oops, send a letter'. I did and they replied beccause I hadn't notified them in writing when kids came back they consider kids stil with Dad, but, I could object within 28 days. So I write in again and decision is turned down again. Next step, family court. Go to lawyer who agrees situation is ludicrous but it will cost me up to $2.5k to take to court. Apply for legal aid but I earn just over the limit. Am now paying arrears weekly out my wages. So....I can prove kids Dad was in Auckland, I can prove kids were at College. Ird accepts I was receiving Family assistance cos its okay to arrange things over the phone with that Dept. Unfortunately not with the Child Support Office. All my correspondence from them has said 'Please contact us immediately of change'. Didn't say in writing and IRD wont budge from this. I am at a total loss as where to go to from here because I am paying an ex money for kids he didn't have! He pays child support still for our daughter still at College but really Im paying money to him and he gives it back???

[Winston001]

Winston001 is also guilty of the same offense if he thinks the current system is fair. It is so not fair it is not funny! The way it can and is manipulated is appalling and so damaging for all sorts of reasons.

Fair enough - examples please? In a nutshell there is no perfect system for child maintenance because every family is different. Circumstances change and people expect IRD to know about and instantly react to every change. It isn't possible, so most countries (to the best of my knowledge) adopt a formula which aims to be fair in general. Please always bear in mind that many families survive on the DPB which is paid for by the taxpayer. The contribution by liable parents to pay back the taxpayer is modest.

[Winston001]

Prior to the LPC scheme, the custodial parent had to apply to the Family Court for an order of child maintenance. That took a long time, tied up the courts, and was basically a waste of taxpayer money. The formula system is far better and you do have rights to object and for review. Problems: quite often separated parents make their own agreement which is great until one needs to apply for a benefit. The agreement is then suspended which can leave on party feeling bitter.Its not uncommon for a distressed man to leave the home and everything in the hands of his wife for the sake of the children. In his mind he's paid forward his obligation and that is a fair view. However the LPC system doesn't recognise this and it might be 2 or 3 years later that IRD catch up with him by which time a huge debt has mounted up. The Court can amend the liability but its a costly and stressful process. Split child custody is common and a source of anger. If the children spend 40% of their time with you then the other parent has to pay you money. But if they are on a benefit and you are working, you'll receive $12.50/wk and have to pay $100/wk or more. I've never found a solution to this unless the parents get on very well and work together.

[Katman]

Prior to the LPC scheme, the custodial parent had to apply to the Family Court for an order of child maintenance. That took a long time, tied up the courts, and was basically a waste of taxpayer money. The formula system is far better and you do have rights to object and for review. Problems: quite often separated parents make their own agreement which is great until one needs to apply for a benefit. The agreement is then suspended which can leave on party feeling bitter.Its not uncommon for a distressed man to leave the home and everything in the hands of his wife for the sake of the children. In his mind he's paid forward his obligation and that is a fair view. However the LPC system doesn't recognise this and it might be 2 or 3 years later that IRD catch up with him by which time a huge debt has mounted up. The Court can amend the liability but its a costly and stressful process. Split child custody is common and a source of anger. If the children spend 40% of their time with you then the other parent has to pay you money. But if they are on a benefit and you are working, you'll receive $12.50/wk and have to pay $100/wk or more. I've never found a solution to this unless the parents get on very well and work together.

I'm more interested to know why there is such a huge discrepancy between what IRD charges a person and what their ex-partner receives.

[2wheeldrifter]

Surely there must be a formula for working a close to real cost of bring up a child, split in 4 groups, 1-5yrs, 6-10yrs 11-15yrs and then 16 to 19yrs.

The system does suck... you earn good money, well your near better off not too. it is 17% for one child then 24% for two which I pay. Thats of your gross, so your PAYE tax is in there formula to pay child support.

Hang on shouldn't it be that you take child support from the money I actually take home in my hand and not inclued my tax that has gone to the goverment? It's our job to be fair!
Already the IRD wankers have ripped me off and our relationship has just started.... (been 2 years now)

[allycatz]

Hang on shouldn't it be that you take child support from the money I actually take home in my hand and not inclued my tax that has gone to the goverment? It's our job to be fair!

Oh I so agree with that statement.....I argued that point with WINZ when I was working part time and still receiving a portion of a benefit....got told 'thats a dam good wage, and you are getting more than some of us in the office'. Yeah I said but do you guys work 12 days straight, two weekends and two stat days to get it? And as I pointed out my $850 net wage for two weeks had to have two weeks rent taken out of $700

[sidecar bob]

I'm more interested to know why there is such a huge discrepancy between what IRD charges a person and what their ex-partner receives.

Because the payer & the reciever both have the amounts calculated on their income. And because shit attracts shit, as per my earlier post, it becomes unfair.

[sinfull]

I'm more interested to know why there is such a huge discrepancy between what IRD charges a person and what their ex-partner receives.

WE are in NZ and because NZers are an apethetic bunch we let things like this happen !

It destroyed my career ! It however also destroyed any sort of tax earn the government may have recieved from me, as i went underground as far as earnings go for 13 yrs ! Came out the other end owing 3 k in back maint !

[raftn]

My ex wife lives in a 1.2million dollar house w, they also own a 480,000$ boat, I live in a rented two bedroon apartment, and pay $1200 a month in child support..........explain to me how this is fucking fair! She point blank refuse to let me have the kids one night extr a fornight as this would reduce her child support........and she wonders why i get a bit pissed when she drops the kids off on her way to the airport for a weekend in Fiji! Thew whole thing is a crock of shit!

[allycatz]

Have you applied for a reassessment? There are several grounds on which to do so

[raftn]

Have you applied for a reassessment? There are several grounds on which to do so

Of course I did.............but to quote IRD, "There is no reson for departure"...............Because we don'r have a 50/50 arrangment, Her income is not assesed. Only mine, and assets don't come into it.

[2wheeldrifter]

Have you applied for a reassessment? There are several grounds on which to do so

When I rang, it was pretty much we don't give a shit attitude in your predicament, we ONLY take into account your mortgage. HP's for anything, Furniture,car whatever not there problem, it's my fault I shouldn't have them. Hearing that it could take up to 3months to a year to sort out I didn't have that luxury to wait as ........... mortgage still had to be paided and IRD still wanted there money...

Stage two... it's our job to STILL be fair! god I'm loving this system, get this overwhelming feeling that I am a criminal and am getting punished because my marriage split!

I feel and hear what your saying Raftn....

[Bald Eagle]

When I rang, it was pretty much we don't give a shit attitude in your predicament, we ONLY take into account your mortgage. HP's for anything, Furniture,car whatever not there problem, it's my fault I shouldn't have them. Hearing that it could take up to 3months to a year to sort out I didn't have that luxury to wait as ........... mortgage still had to be paided and IRD still wanted there money...

Stage two... it's our job to STILL be fair! god I'm loving this system, get this overwhelming feeling that I am a criminal and am getting punished because my marriage split!

I feel and hear what your saying Raftn....

Go underground, if possible join the green economy the great social engineers who art in parliament will punish any for deviating from the norm 1 x marriage 2.5 kids etc etc

[allycatz]

I do sympathize....I keep getting the 'we are so sorry but you didnt put anything in writing and those are the rules'. What happened to good old fashioned truth and facts....I don't understand how I can prove kids were in my care and yet still have to pay an ex 650kms away who never had them for the 18 months they are referring to

[MaxB]

Difficulties faced by people in this thread are exactly why 2 of my best friends are oveseas.

One left for a job that pays 120k more than he was getting in NZ. Both left their ex s everything but still the IRD wanted more.

One is a ratbag and has started again with a new family and gives his young ones nothing but the other has to bribe his greedy ex to send his kids over to him and somehow he gets money to them in NZ. The irony is that they are getting way more $$$ than if he had stayed in NZ.

I guess the IRD are after them but they only have to pay if they come back and they are not coming back.