Child Maintenance Allowance - does it exist?

The Davestator

I had a brief conversation with a friend of a friend who told me he receives 54 euro a week to assist him in his child maintenance payments to his ex.

I could really do with this if it exists, as I dont want to default in my payments, but its getting harder to make them

Has anyone any experience of this?

Thanks in advance

dollyk

cant imagine this to be true, as payments are based on what you can afford. maybe go back to court and asked for them to be reduced if you need .

cee_jay

I don't know of any payment from Social Welfare for this.

However, you may be eligible for extra tax credits.
Had a quick look on Google:
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/categories/money-and-tax/tax/income-tax-credits-and-reliefs/maintenance_and_tax
That seems to say if it is a maintenance order that is in place you may be entitled to a tax deduction for the payments - however if you are paying maintenance voluntarily (i.e. you worked it out between you both and didn't go through the courts) then you wouldn't be eligible for the tax deduction.

If your child(ren) stay over night with you throught the year, you may be eligible for One Parent Family Tax Credit: http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/credits/one-parent-family.html

I don't really have any knowledge of the above, so will move your thread to taxation where you may get more info.

gerrybbadd

Hi,

There is no tax relief on maintenance payments made for children, be it legally enforced or voluntary. The only tax relief is for legally enforced maintenance payments to ex spouses.

mkdon05

As stated above, no tax relief is given for Maintenance paymaents for children, however If the child stays with you in your house at all during the year you will receive a single parent tax credit which is €1830 per year.
Call the revenue and inform them of your situation.

Hoffmans

and dont worry if the kids say a few years old your entitled to a refund backdated till when it was born....

K-9

The Davestator wrote: »

I had a brief conversation with a friend of a friend who told me he receives 54 euro a week to assist him in his child maintenance payments to his ex.

I could really do with this if it exists, as I dont want to default in my payments, but its getting harder to make them

Has anyone any experience of this?

Thanks in advance

As others have said, only the single parent tax credit is available for children. For Social Welfare purposes a child dependent allowance is payable.

If you are married and its a legally enforceable spousal agreement, it may be claimed, but you'd need to agree it with your ex as it becomes taxable income for her/him.

If you are finding it tough and many maintenance payers are, apply to the court to get it altered. That is the only way court ordered maintenance can be changed.

Is your friend in receipt of a Social Welfare payment? If so, I think your friend maybe referring to the Child Dependant Allowance.

See the Operational Guidelines of "Increase for a Qualified Child" -

http://www.welfare.ie/EN/OperationalGuidelines/Pages/depsqc.aspx#normalres

Section (4) Substantial contribution by the other parent.