Child Support Act and Child Support Issues
Parents for Children and Auckland Single Parents Trust are holding meetings around Auckland on the Child Support Act and child support issues that affect parents. The meeting is open to the public and free to receive information on what the child support act is about and how to deal with it by speaker Mark Shipman followed by personal discussion and assistance on child support issues.
This meeting is for all parents whether paying child support, receiving child support or unsure of what it is all about.
FIRST MEETING
Wednesday 7th June, 7.30pm
Kelston Community Centre
Cnr Gt North Rd & Awaroa Ave, Kelston
THANK YOU Julie this is one meeting I wont miss. Mark knows his stuff we all need to get along there to find how we can stop this shocking rip off called child support.Im sure we dont mind paying for our kids but lets make sure it is fair and just.It will do no one any good if a parent has to skip the country or jumps of the bridge because of the huge pressure some are placed under.So hope all can make it.
Comment by DAVE L — Sun 4th June 2006 @ 1:39 pm
Hi Julie
I’m hoping for some feedback and advice and were hoping you, or anyone else, could help.
I am a single father who has shared custody (50/50) of my daughter. It has been this way now for almost a year and took along time to acheive. However my ex is still on the DPB and shows no sign of quiting her comfy government funded lifestyle while I have struggled through the last few years to obtain a double degree and am now finishing a teaching diploma. I have done this in order to be able to provide for and give my daughter what she needs now and in the furture. However I feel I am being punished for this by the child support system. I have only recently been informed by IRD that I can file against my ex for child support, which I have done and at the moment her payment off sets mine. I was told this after having been told numerous times in the past that there was nothing that could be done – this resulted in me paying thousands of dollars which I have been told I am not allowed to claim back. However when I enter the workforce my payments will increase and I wouldn’t mind one bit if the money was actually going to support my daughter but I end up paying for more than half of my daughters expenses as it is (my ex refuses to pay for things like haircuts, doctors fees, dacing expenses, soccer fees, kindy fees – the list goes on). My ex though seems to have an endless supply of money to spend on herself and unneccesary items(the latest additions are a flash new cell phone, a cat and a PS2 with a truck load of games).
I have had a meeting with my local MP and while he is looking into my situation and has written letters to the minister I am unsure as to whether or not anything will come of it.
Any suggestions or advice?
Thanks
Comment by Jonas G — Tue 6th June 2006 @ 1:32 pm
Hi Jonas,
My group is organising the event.It would be good if you could make it to the meeting. If not, you can contact parents for families.
Email: James Nicolle
Mark Shipman
I will also keep your details if that is OK, to pass on.
Comment by julie — Tue 6th June 2006 @ 4:05 pm
Hi again Jonas,
Sorry, the email addresses don’t work. Visit this page on this site http://menz.org.nz/Information/childsup.htm
It has link to James Nicolle. I will pass your e-mail address on.
Maybe some other males here can comment and help.
Comment by julie — Tue 6th June 2006 @ 4:11 pm
let us know what the outcome is…
Comment by starr — Tue 6th June 2006 @ 10:13 pm
Thanks for the contacts. Unfortunatley I don’t live in Auckland otherwise I would be there.
Cheers Jonas
Comment by Jonas G — Wed 7th June 2006 @ 9:55 am
what i really don’t like about child support is a parent can legally abduct/ detain a child from the other parent and claim from the other parent
without the other parent having any choice in the matter and even when the kid is willing to be with the paying parent.
during the process of appeals the paying parent loses out finacially as he is paying for child support, paying his legal bills etc when these things didn’t originate from him.
the paying parent is not only forced to be away from the child but is made to pay money for it as well esp when there is a migration involved a move agreed by both parents- when one parent goes over, the other parent reneges in the absence of the other parent and detains the child with her as well. then makes an underhanded application ti IRD for child support.
Comment by starr — Thu 8th June 2006 @ 3:07 pm
Hi
Just found this site after a google. Wow I can see there are other people in similar situations to mine, and maybe there could be some light at the end of the tunnel after all, if we can all support each other and bring changes to the extremely unfair and punitive child support system.
I am also a part-time solo dad, have 50/50 shared parenting arangement for my 8 year old son. My ex broke up with me when he was 3 because she had fallen in love with a woman and had decided she was a lesbian.
Virtually overnight, I lost my family and my home of 11 years (courtesy of the Relationship Property Act 2002). It was an extremely stressful time. But I have not given up and struggled to re-establish myself in a home nearby so I could continue to be a parent for my son. It has been financially crippling! The first 2 years were the worst as in addition to rent and child support, I was still paying the mortgage of my house which was now occupied by my ex and her new partner. I complained and protested constantly to the Child Support Agency but nobody would listen. I guess situations like mine are just administratively “too hard” for them to deal with.
People like myself absolutely want to be with their children. We love our kids dearly and it is very stressful and disillusioning to be in a situation such as ours, being stripped of assests and savings and “punished” with exorbriant child support payments. Criminals probably get treated better by the state with more asset protection and consideration while they are locked up in jail.
I would propose to our politicians that the current system be ammended. 1. In cases of 50/50 shared parenting, neither parent should automatically be entitled to Child Support.
2. When Child Support IS considered, it should be the total household income of each party that is used in the Child Support calculation, rather than just the income of each parent. This is to avoid the injustice of situations like mine, where a single-income solo dad subsidises a double income same-sex partnership merely because dad earns more than the mum. Also this is fairer because it means that when adults enter a relationship where children are involved, they will know that they are taking on a responsibility. All working adults involved in relationships where there are children should be responsible.
Comment by Stephen Leach — Tue 13th June 2006 @ 2:29 pm
Comment by pearl — Thu 12th October 2006 @ 11:05 pm