Ma

littlebee

Hello,

Hoping someone can help.

DD's father has been paying maintenance per calendar month, all fine etc, never a problem. He has now sold his house and wishes to pay me a lump sum to cover maintenance payments until DD turns 18 (DD is currently 9.5 years old).

He wishes to do this on 1 July, which doesn't give me much time to research and being Saturday, Welfare is closed. So...

1. This is ok to do?
2. Surely this lump sum isn't taken as 'savings' when calculating means?!
3. Any other implications?

Many thanks!

The Diddakoi

You might have to put the money in a separate account in your son's name, as if it was in your account it would probably be assessed as savings.

uck51js9zml2yt

Are your maintenance payments by court order? In the normal course of events are they likely to increase as your daughter gets older and her needs increase.
Taking a full and final payment for the next 9 years is a risk.
Also how about when she's in college? Are payments to be made then?

Don't let him rush you into it.If he's rushing you them he may be hiding something.

Talk to social welfare about the implications and get any advice they give you in writing so they can't contradict themselves in a year's time.

njs030

Check your tax implications, generally lump sums of over 3,000 Euro are taxable, I don't know how that relates to maintenance. It might make more sense if he sets up some kind of fund for his daughter which pays out x amount monthly.

However as others have said what happens in a few years as she costs more and his maintenance contributions should go up? Who is going to pay for school books, trips, holidays? What about if she does a ty year or goes to college and is a dependant past the age of 18?

At the very least don't sign anything agreeing that the lump sum absolves him of maintenance.
Personally I would tell him to continue maintenance payments as agreed and let him worry about how to organize it

littlebee

Thank you.

No, no court order. Mutual agreement. His payments have decreased (in amount) over the last few years as his work has become less frequent.

He will not increase the payments. I know this. He has in the past made one off contributions to cover school maintenance fees/voluntary contribution (€350) when his guilt gets the better of him - he has only seen DD once in 5 years and is moving abroad now (quite a distance) and I know isn't going to make the effort to see her again.

He is making this payment as with his work so limited, he feels he will not be able to maintain the monthly maintenance contributions and with this lump sum payment, he will be covered up until DD turns 18.

DD will (!!) go to university and I know therefore, that he has a duty to pay maintenance until 23 if DD is in full time education.

I will seek clarification from welfare on Monday and also, perhaps put him off making the payment transfer for a few weeks.

Thanks again

gordongekko

littlebee wrote: »

Thank you.

No, no court order. Mutual agreement. His payments have decreased (in amount) over the last few years as his work has become less frequent.

He will not increase the payments. I know this. He has in the past made one off contributions to cover school maintenance fees/voluntary contribution (€350) when his guilt gets the better of him - he has only seen DD once in 5 years and is moving abroad now (quite a distance) and I know isn't going to make the effort to see her again.

He is making this payment as with his work so limited, he feels he will not be able to maintain the monthly maintenance contributions and with this lump sum payment, he will be covered up until DD turns 18.

DD will (!!) go to university and I know therefore, that he has a duty to pay maintenance until 23 if DD is in full time education.

I will seek clarification from welfare on Monday and also, perhaps put him off making the payment transfer for a few weeks.

Thanks again

Can he not just open an account himself, lodge the lump sum into it andset up a direct debit to you weekly.

littlebee

Am looking into all options. I realise what you are all saying re DD's rising costs, secondary school, college etc but he isn't going to increase what he pays. When he first started reducing maintenance (few years ago) I explained all this to him but he said he can't give what he doesn't have. I don't know his financial situation, I don't know his work situation - only what he tells me. He is not a part of our lives anymore, his choosing, so I just have to take him at his word.

The first thing I'm going to do is ask him not to transfer the money until I have looked into things this end. I only received the email today! It all seems a little rushed, as to why, I don't think I will ever know.

littlebee

gordongekko wrote: »

Can he not just open an account himself, lodge the lump sum into it andset up a direct debit to you weekly.

He is now living abroad (not europe) and I don't think a direct debit will be possible to set up.

littlebee

Didn't realise I hadn't finished writing the title of my post - unable to edit!

MarkR

What's a DD?

Spanish Eyes

Under €225k lump sum to child is tax free as a gift. And as maintenance is actually tax free. Check Revenue website.

It will not affect child benefit.

Probably better if Dad is elsewhere. No chasing up for maintenance, a clean break.

Spanish Eyes

MarkR wrote: »

What's a DD?

Dear Daughter.

DS is Dear Son.

text speak.

gordongekko

littlebee wrote: »

He is now living abroad (not europe) and I don't think a direct debit will be possible to set up.

of course it will

Dee5

MarkR wrote: »

What's a DD?

Daughter
So it's dd ds dh sdd sds
(Dear) Daughter son husband stepdaughter stepson Etc

Second Toughest in_the Freshers

I thought it was darling.


I thought it was banned...

littlebee

Sorry, yes, DD is Dear/Darling Daughter! From my earlier magicmum days.... old habit.

Thanks again, will look into further next week.

Dee5

Second Toughest in_the Freshers wrote: »

I thought it was darling.


I thought it was banned...

My children are dear to me always, am then acting like darlings is debatable......

goz83

With there being no court order and him not even living here, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take the lump sum, put it into an account for your daughter with monthly amounts going to you. You can talk about college funds in a few years.

njs030

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Under €225k lump sum to child is tax free as a gift. And as maintenance is actually tax free. Check Revenue website.

It will not affect child benefit.

Probably better if Dad is elsewhere. No chasing up for maintenance, a clean break.

To his child it's tax free. Op said it was being given to her which was why I mentioned tax.