Advice on cost of teenagers ?

Hi My mother died last year leaving my 13 yo brother, myself and my wife naturally have taken him in. I have converted the garage into a lovely bedroom for him at my expense. He doesnt live with his dad ( my ex step dad) as he was abusive. When my mum divorced from my brothers dad there was a court settlement that my mother was to receive 拢250.00 per week to pay for my brother. Now my brother is living with us his father has decided to drop the payments without going to the court for a reduction. The problem is that we already have two boys and a new born. I have been asked to work out what we pay out every month for my brother by the child support agency. When i sat down and worked it out it was aprrox 拢100.00 per week. Is that a realistic amount. Even with some child benefit and the 拢150.00 per month from his father we are still paying an additonal 拢2900.00 per annum.





Many thanks for any advice Advice on cost of teenagers ?
100.00 a week is on the low side. You have to consider the cost in rent, utilities, food, cloths, sports, school, medical care, and all the odds and ends you have for this child. A child should not have to suffer just cause the Dad doesn't want to pay. In my house I would set it at 150.00 a week. You need to also be thinking about his collage. I would go an extra 50.00 a week for collage. Total 200.00 a week. I think you and your wife are awesome for taking on this responsibility. It's people like you that will make the world a better place. God bless





Why the thumb's down?Advice on cost of teenagers ?
Talk to a lawyer - if the payment to his mother was 拢250 weekly then it should be the same for him now, unless that included a portion which was for your mother's support.





It is good of you and your wife to take your brother in and raise him, but if he has a father, you should be receiving enough money so that it does not cost you 拢2900 each year.