What is the purpose of Child Support Payments ?

Question

Do most mothers just spend it on themselves ? I never got a dime from my mother growing up yet she recieved payments from my father. I never even got an Allowance !

Answer 1

But I bet your mother made sure you had clothes, a roof over your head, food to eat and utilities paid right??? THATS what child support payments are for...to help with the care of the child. NOT to put in the childs hands so the child can do what they want with it. The money belongs to the parent taking care of the child to do with whatever they choose as long as the childs needs are being taken care of.

Answer 2

You sound like my step children. The purpose for child support is just that to help support the child. My husband is paying his ex over $3000 a month child support, plus she gets 100% of his income tax return(which she should thank me for giving birth to his 4th child for the tax credit) this year that amount is $5000 plus his GST returns. I know his kids do not get an allowance, they all have jobs to buy the things that they want. they live in a 2 bedroom trailer ( includes Mother her boyfriend his daughter, Husbands twins and son. and the 2 dogs) You cant tell me that a woman getting that kind of child support, receives her baby bonus for the 4 kids living at home and her and the boyfriend both have amazing jobs is forced to live in a 2 bedroom trailer in a trailer park. There is something wrong with this picture.
I know the kids eat and have clothes, but the way they are living is so not right. It upsets me because she has a brand new car(as does the boyfriend) and they both have new Harleys? And there is no college fund set up for any of the kids.
My opinion is that if a mother receives child support she should apply half of that payment into an account for the childs future, college or a home his choice at age 18.
There are a lot of things wrong with the way child support is handled and the only one that really gets hurt in the long run is the children.
I wish you the best of luck finding the answers from your mother as to why she never gave you anything from what your father was supporting her with.

Answer 3

I'm not denying that there are people out there that don't use the child support payments the way they should use them, which should be for the kids! But that doesn't mean every situation is like that. Just because a kid doesn't see the money doesn't mean it's not going towards supporting him/her. There is rent, utilities, food, clothes, school supplies, and the list goes on. Most parents that receive child support (Which by the way isn't only received by women, but men too! There are men that have the primary custody of their children) put it towards raising their children and all the expenses that come along with doing that.

Answer 4

is this postpartum stress, repressed/displaced anger or what!

when a parent receives child support it is a proportionate amount the non custodial parent is required to pay to assist with your ADLs (assisted daily living needs). by the time the check comes, it is REIMBURSING the custodial parent for the money that he/she has already spent in providing for the child's needs. some parents who have it like that may be able to share part of the support money with their children in the form of an allowance...but in reality, unless you're a single parent who's financially stable and secure...its legitimately a reimbursment...and usually that's the case...

in some cases the custodial parent can make more than the non-custodial parent and the payments become based on an assesment of what who can afford to pay more so....

so....if your mother got enough child support to use it to reimburse her for the rent or house note she paid to put a roof over your head, to cover the cost of buying your food and clothes you needed, your doctor and medical expenses, along with holidays and birthdays....excuse me, then it would be a shame if you never got an allowance if you did your chores and any other guideslines that most parents use to define the amount of an allowance a child gets...however if it wasnt enough to pay all or at least half of those expenses....get over it....most working parents with support orders are doing the best that they can....its ungrateful kids that make a parent miserable in trying...

Answer 5

if you look at how child support is set up in the courts it doesn't have a percentage for allowance. it is to be used for housing, clothing, medications,school etc necessity things. my ex uses it to pay her rent. I do not care how the money that I give her is used as long as the children's needs are being met. I used to have a problem because she would come to me asking for more money and it always seemed to coincide with her boyfriend being out of beer. my children actually live with me 80% of the time since they do not want to be around her boyfriend when he is drinking which is most of the time. that is where I have a problem with paying child support. but with all things being equal I would be paying the money out one way or the other. if you are really curious ask your mom how she spent the money but ask her in a loving way that shows interest not condemnation I bet you will find the amount of money did not equal the cost of raising you outside of just necessities. unless your father was wealthy then it was necessities at a higher standard. do not let this build a wall between you and your parents it is not worth it.

Answer 6

It is suppose to be for the child but it has been my experience that it is spent on other things. Most people do it out of sheer spite, but others use it to pay for kids important items like food and clothes. My ex used to give the money to her new man to buy video games and she made sure I knew. I got the last laugh I went for custody and won, when it came time to it the judge asked me if I wanted support. I was SO tempted to say yes and stick it to her but I could not treat her as she treated me so I let it go, I figured losing the kids was pain enough. Now we are friends and she apologized for everything and is active in my kids lives.

Answer 7

A judge will tell you that it doesn't matter what the mother spends the support on as long as the child is taken care of. It's not suppose to go directly to the child. A judge told me one time that the mother could take the money and go out drinking with it and it wouldn't matter. She can buy her new clothes or whatever...as long as the child is taken care of.

Answer 8

Child support pays for food, shelter, utilities, transportation, clothing, the child entertainment, sports, activities, toiletries, in other words, anything that child needs while growing up. After paying all that, and I'm sure, more, why would you be entitled to an allowance?

Answer 9

Chilld support is to provide financial balance for children who grow up living with only one parent. All parents have a legal duty to support their children.

Keeping a roof over your head, food and clothing is usually what the child support goes towards.

Answer 10

Some mothers do use the child support money for themselves. Others use it for the children. It's not just for allowance though. It's to pay for the roof over your head, to put food on your table and clothes on your back. Unfortunatelly, there are some mothers that take advantage and use the money for themselves. How old are you?