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Morning,
With February now on us and almost a year of this lockdown [censored], I am wondering how members have found dealing with the CMS during this time and how they have dealt with your various questions
I work in hospitality and with furlough, have seen my job pretty much disappear, I have tried to explain this to my ex, who still gets over £550 each month for my son, which I have never missed a payment in over 10 years, but the 25% rule the CMS have, has seen me struggling to make ends meet every month, whilst having to pay for my son, as if I was still earning what they assume and people were actually going out and spending money
I have to contact the CMS in a couple of weeks, to request a change of circumstances, which is a couple of months after my annual review, even in the 2 months, a further lockdown and my industry decimated
So I was just wondering has the experience during lockdown, shown any change from the CMS and are they possibly more accommodating to the NRP, that has fallen on hard times, or is it still the hard line, even when the 25% rule has been met
many thanks
hi,
there was recent debate in Parliament, with some MP's pressing for change to that 25% rule. for me it was lot easier dealing with CMS last year. I lost my job, so they put me on the Nil rate. no maintenance to pay. was a minor headache. had to send evidence to prove that I lost job, and also prove I am no longer trading using my company.
My feeling from reading forums and articles is that the emphasis seems to focus more on the resident parents possible struggles if they are having children at home etc and the fact that some NRPs may not be paying what they should, due to losing jobs etc. So, rather than there being more sympathy or flexibility to the paying parent, I think there is possibly less.
I could be wrong, it is an observation, I have not had to deal with them for around 9 months now, but the dreaded reassessment date is looming!
thanks guys,
Kind of what I expected, I have previously been a little harsh about the CMS, was my experience unfortunately, each person that I spoke to, really felt that I was being treated as a parent that just did not want to pay and nothing could be further from the truth, I just wanted to have a conversation about changes in circumstances, but hey ho, the 25% rule is what they constantly fall back on, does not look like this will change, if it hasn't during Covid, cannot see it will at any other time
I know what you mean on the dreaded assessment, after 10 years you thing I would just take it in my stride, but this year, through an amazing partner and, believe me, very frugal living, I have come out of the company car scheme, obviously no bonus for some years in my industry, so I am hoping that the next assessment, with no car, BIK hit, or bonus, will be a bit closer to what I actually earn
thanks again
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