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Is the CMS calculator always right?
I've 5 kids, 1 one with me the other 4 with the mother.
Court order/child arrangement is standard 3 nights every other weekend and half of all holidays. Currently on universal credit.
My oldest daughter (15) is not part of the order but she was staying when the others stayed and I also had her for 2 weeks when the mother kicked her out.
Since early May, I've not seen her or had contact, the mother has blatantly alienated my girl against me and I'm in the process of mediation and unfortunately looking to go back to court to try and make sure this does not happen to the younger 3.
The CMS calculator is saying I don't have to pay but CMS themselves are saying I have to pay for her and will take out of benefits..
I'd rather give direct to the mother but she is just impossible to see reason.
So question is, how good and reliable is the calculator..do I have grounds to argue or just wasting my time?
Thank you in advance for any feedback
Hi,
With CMS they would expect you to pay for your child, where your the non resident parent. The calculator site is great for people that want to make private arrangement away from CMS.
I would say that the only reason that the CMS calculator may say that you don't have to pay is if you've said that you have the children for 183 nights or more (ie equally shared), whereas the CMS are presumably working on a figure of less that that (and 3 nights and half holidays would give less than 183 nights) and the court order would confirm that.
Incidentally, if one of them is living with your permanently, that is a separate claim by you against the mother - if she is working or on benefits, then you should open a separate claim with CMS against the mother.