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Hi Guys,
I am new to DAD info, only signed up today in fact as I have been looking for some support with regards to where I stand in terms of the amount of child maintenance I am paying the mother of my two children. I pay her £300 per month which is roughly £60 more than what she is legally entitled to and she's now asking for more money towards the costs of school uniform but can afford to take them away on holiday for a week at the start of the summer holiday's even though she works part time?
Can anyone help on this s to where I stand?
Many thanks
Andy
@andyt79 hi so sounds like you have a private arrangement with your ex? if you like you could voluntarily pay her extra. if you choose not to, she will likely open a case with Child Maintenance service. if they calculate that you have to pay a lower amount each month, then you would be better off. but the pitfalls of CMS is that if you earn more, you pay more. if you get bonus, do overtime or get pay rise, then your maintenance payments increase.
Ok, so what I read from that is you are paying for everything, and she is wanting more… I am sure that is her having her cake and eating it.
I would kindly let her know that if she wishes to go that route and expect additional payments that something else will have to give, i.e. stop paying for entertainment when he is with her, school lunches and other things that Child Maintenance is supposed to be paid towards.
Let her know that if you want the money via CMS then the CMS payments are supposed to be used towards the following, (food, house, utilities, clothing etc) and stop paying for other things. Basically its not like you are not paying her for it, you are just changing the fact that you were paying it already to now being paid via CMS.
Hi guys, Just an update on my original post. I had applied for mandatory reconsideration and it has been succesfull in that CMS now agree Shared Care is equal and there sharing is on "equal band" meaning no extra nights calculation. I have managed to prove day-to-date care is equal even though I have only 3 nights a week with my son.
However, the problem now is they have still sent me a reduced payment. Previously I was asked to pay out 570 a month, now that reduced to 450 a month. CMS say though it is equal shared care, they consider other parent as primary care holder and therefore I still need to pay.
I am clueless now as their letter clearly states the outcome of mandatory reconsideration and they agree shared care is "equal".
CMS are bluntly avoiding any further discussion and not listening at all.
I proved with all evidence that I take care of my sons expense even outside CMS and the fact that I have shared custody which is equal, I thought I do not need to make any payments at all.
Now my next option is to appeal through independent tribunal. I have no clue about this process and not sure if I have a case here to pursue.
Please can anyone suggest if appealing through tribunal is worthwhile, given that I have CMS agree that I do have equal shared care.?
@mah787 hi. I would recommend this support group for paying parents. There are many in there that have same situation as you and are challenging CMS:
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