What does maintenance cover?

Hi,

I''m not sure whether this is the correct forum, so mods please feel free to move.

Things are finally looking up. After two years, the courts have finally seen through the ex''s lies and I can see my girls outside of a Contact Centre. However, there are no overnight stays yet (hopefully that will change at the next hearing in March), so I''m still paying the undiscounted CSA figure.

I spent over a year out of work, and took a job which pays far less than my last one, just to get back to work. Money is tight; if it wasn''t for my other half, I''d have enough to commute and pay bills - nothing for food.

We were planning to take the girls swimming tomorrow. With no money in the kitty, I asked the ex to provide swimming kit, a request which has been declined.

I don''t plan on making an issue of this, but it would be useful to know for the next hearing whether there would be an expectation that swimming kit, the cost of which has presumably been contributed towards by my maintenance, would be made available for the girls to use when they''re with me.

Any thoughts?

OSB

child maintenance is a contribution to the costs of raising a child including things like food and clothes, and helping to provide a home for your children.

Do you know for a fact that your ex has swimming kit to provide? If so it is petty to withhold it but there isn''t really much you can do other than visit a charity shop and buy second hand kit cheaply for the children to use when the are with you.

Thanks Fiona,

The girls have a swimming pool where they live and swim a few times a week, so agree that it''s pretty petty.

OSB