Welcome to the DAD.Info forum: Important Information – open to read:
Our forum aims to provide support and guidance where it can, however we may not always have the answer. The forum is not moderated 24 hours a day, so If you – or someone you know – are being harmed or in immediate danger of being harmed, call the police on 999.
Alternatively, if you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123.
If you are worried about you or someone you know is at risk of harm, please click here: How we can help
Hi, I have 4 children that I pay maintenance 4, I have just changed over to the new CMS scheme. 3 of these children I have family based arrangements for (2 separate mums). The 4th I formally used the CSA for as I have no contact with them (I didn’t know chid existed until she was 7, and the first I knew of it was a letter from the CSA asking for money). The parent wants to pay by direct pay but when I asked the CMS to take the other children into account, although I have to provide written and signed letters from the other 2 parents stating our terms and how many children I pay for the CMS claim they will only take 17% of the payment figure off and the rest has to be paid by direct pay to the other parent.
Does anyone else have any dealings with this, surely this is wrong? They should be splitting the payment sum by 4 and then if I choose to pay extra then that’s my choice?
I have no issues making the payments just I am being penalised for not using the service even though surely the whole point is to try and get people to make arrangements themselves?
Hi there
I always thought that it would be divided equally between the number of children. Here's a link to their guidelines on how they calculate CM and it appears from that that its 19% of gross income for 3 or more children.
If you think their calculations are wrong I can only suggest that you appeal their decision and try and conduct all communication with them in writing.
We have a member that is very fluent in all things CM so hopefully he will be along soon to give his take on your situation.
Best of luck
Thank you for your reply, my error it was 19% they told me on the phone. Thank you for the link I will look into it.
I wonder if I appealed whether they would actually take the other children and split it equally? Its really frustrating as now it is looking like the 2 other parents have to apply to the CMS citing a £20 fee each in doing so when we are all perfectly happy with the arrangement that stands and the CMS calculations will also be have them entitled to less money than they are getting now (although my existing amounts will not change to them)
to be honest, having them apply to the CMS will massively simplify the situation - or you could always apply instead of them I think. Whether it would be one or two applications, I'm not sure.
Welcome to the DAD.info forum.
We don’t like to set ‘rules’, but to make sure that you and the other dads are kept safe, we have some requests. When engaging with the forum, please be aware of the following:
- The forum is not moderated 24 hours per day.
- Many of the moderators do so on a voluntary basis. Whilst they may be able to provide some guidance, advice or support, they may not be able to deal with specifics.
- We are not an emergency crisis service so if you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call emergency services.
- If you are concerned about the safety of a child, please click here to find the support you can get for them (link to new page)
- If you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123. They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
We hope you find this forum a supportive environment and thank you for joining us.