Separated, how much should I provide?

A question about : Separated, how much should I provide?

I’ve been separated from my wife and 2 children for 6 months now. My children are 17 and 19 and both in full time education. My wife and Children don’t have jobs so my income is the only one. I’m lodging with a friend but need to find my own place now, obviously funding the family and myself is difficult on one income. The family home has no mortgage on it now so all paid for just the bills. Obviously they need to get jobs and are trying to but I’m looking for guidelines advice on how much I should provide them each month as I’m having to survive on little so I want to set some sort of reasonable budget.

What would be an appropriate proportion of my income should I give them?
How is it typically calculated?
I’ve looked on line at lots of sites but nothing gives an indication.

Best answers:

• Normally, according to CSA, you give 20% of your income for both the children until they end Education. You don't need to pay any bills as you're not living there.
  Once the kids leave full time education you don't pay anything.
• It depends on whether the children are in secondary education that permits their mother to claim Child Benefit for them.
  If the older one is at unviersity, your income will have been used to assess their loan and grant, with the expectation that you would make the expected contribution but you would not pay their mother for their keep.
  Your ex-wife needs to sign on for contributions based JSA and claim CTB and CTC to cover the cost of the younger child.
  In addtion you will pay 15% (for one) or 20% (for 2) children as required by the CSA.
  If your wife has not worked for a long time it may be appropriate to pay short-term spousal support, so she can fund re-training for example.
• Why on earth do your children "obviously" need jobs ? They are in fulltime education.....Do you expect them to give that up simply because you've chosen to move out ?
  You need to seperate your marital finances. If your wife is job seeking she should be claiming JSA and tax credits for the children should be claimed by her as a single parent not as a joint claim as is possibly still happening at the moment. In addition as mentioned you should be paying child support of 20% of your income either as a private arrangement or via the CSA
• They are not at uni but 6th form and college. At the moment because they have no other income they've been carrying on using the joint account to fund everything. My wife has a car which I pay for (lease scheme through work) the monthly standing order/direct debit bills are Ј650 so I thought I'd cover that and give them Ј1000 a month to live on. On top of that I'm paying for both children's driving lessons at the moment. Does that sound reasonable until they have some of their own income? Out of what's left I need to clear Ј8K on interest free credit card by next Feb and pay rent and living costs so it is a stretch.
  I didn't think my wife (not divorced yet) was eligible for JSA as she's not been in work for more than 5 years?
• I think that's far too much personally!!
  HBS x
• Agree with the above that you are paying far too much!!
  The bills are for your wife to cover. You do not live in the house so you do not need to pay them.
  The tax credits and JSA she should claim will make things tighter than she is used to but she will need to budget accordingly.
  Re maintanence for your children, 20% of your income for 2 children whilst they are in FTE and then its obviously up to you if you want to carry on paying for their driving lessons etc
• 20% is for both children. Not each. When the eldest leaves FTE then you will have to pay 15% for 1 child.
  She needs to get herself down the job centre or a temping agency to start getting some work/money in. As there's no mortgage it'll be just bills and food to find.
  I would stop putting your money in the joint account so you can start getting your own place and start living your life again. It won't go against you in court as they don't look at that kind of thing.
• No you are expected to pay 15% of your net income if you have one childa and 20 percent in total if you have two eligible children.
  What course is the elder one studying???
  You MUST sort out the joint bank account urgently. Get your own accoutn and get your salary paid in. Your wife needs to get her own sole account as well.
  Close the joint account; if you think there is any chance she will raid it and run up and overdraft then write to the bank (take it in) and tell them that all future debits require both signatures.
  Your wife needs to go her www.turn2us.org.uk to work out what support she can get.
  She is not entitled to contributions based JSA but can claim income based JSA. But because you have a joint bank account and she is using your salary at will, she will be assessed as having too much income. So you need to split everything properly.
  Since we do not know your income, we cannot comment on the suitability of your offer.
  But is your wife wants to do something llike the ECDL then I would offer to pay as she will have more chance getting work.
• The 20% of income is the minimu you should pay - but it doesn't mean you can't pay more.
  If you feel you want or feel there is some reason you should pay more go ahead.
• Jack it sound like you are approaching this situation in a fair way. Maybe you could offer to help her to set up the correct benefits while she job hunts etc? Some people on here are all about the, pay the correct amount and get out.' Whereas I feel that you were once a loving family. Life is about more than money.
  Your children are more than likely exploring career paths at the moment and if your ex has been out of work for a long time, she may be lacking confidence to apply for jobs & benefits and may need all the help she can get to get it all together. Good luck to you all.