To think the CMS should include Childcare Vouchers

[AnonDadUK]

Odd that Childcare Vouchers are not included under CMS given the very name of CMS being Child Maintenance. I have written to my MP - Tory so unless he gets something out of it unlikely to do anything with it - but it is crazy this can not be used as part of child maintenance.

Because they are 2 separate things.

It is still money I am paying toward the children which benefits their mother - ergo, she then doesn't have to pay that amount to the childminder. If I am not able to use them toward that - as decided by CMS - then what is the point in even having the scheme?

Is this so you can pay less money to your ex?

Should childcare vouchers be able to be used as well as CM? Absolutely yes.

Should they be used instead of? No.

I think it's madness that the NRP isn't jointly responsible for childcare costs. On top of maintenance

Surely you’d just use them to pay for childcare when you need it on your time?

Not at all - but as she has gone militant I am getting a double whammy if I am using them and then paying her CMS which is based on an income I earned 16 months ago. (I don't earn close to that anymore)

I am not NRP by choice - have them 2 nights a week and 40% of the time during the week when they are not with childminder/at school - sadly looks like it is time for a court hearing as I also pay, on top of CMS, all school clothing, sports clothing, sports etc.

Nobody has to go through the CMS. Have you tried asking your ex whether she will come to an arrangement with you? As the childcare vouchers would be of benefit to you then you could even offer a higher total amount than the CMS would award if she agrees herself to include the vouchers instead of going through the CMS.

If your income has decreased by more than 25% then apply for a mandatory reconsideration. You're clearly looking for ways to pay less towards the daily cost of bringing up your children

the childcare voucher scheme closed to new applicants a while ago.
CMS is a general contribution towards the cost of raising a child. If anything it’s a reimbursement for costs already paid. Rent, bills, food, clothes.

You don’t get to dictate what it is spent on.

You can decrease the amount of money you put into the scheme to the minimum. Then once your account is empty pull out.

The vouchers are going directly to the childcare provider NOT your children's mother.

However just remember one day your kids will be teenagers and particularly if you don't get on with their mother they will think you didn't pay anything towards their up keep at the moment you can prove otherwise. Do you want to keep it that way?

"Reallybadidea · Today 14:49
Nobody has to go through the CMS. Have you tried asking your ex whether she will come to arrangement with you? As the childcare vouchers would be of benefit to you then you could even offer a higher total amount than the CMS would award if she agrees herself to include the vouchers instead of going through the CMS."

Tried but she deems it her money - ironically she would be financially better off if she was to allow me to include them - is what it is.

"Waitingforsummer75 · Today 14:49
If your income has decreased by more than 25% then apply for a mandatory reconsideration. You're clearly looking for ways to pay less towards the daily cost of bringing up your children"

Negative, I pay for all school related costs, sports related activity etc. If I was trying to dodge it, surely I would nip that in the bud?

Well stop paying for extra's.

"Danikm151 · Today 14:50
the childcare voucher scheme closed to new applicants a while ago.
CMS is a general contribution towards the cost of raising a child. If anything it’s a reimbursement for costs already paid. Rent, bills, food, clothes.

You don’t get to dictate what it is spent on."

Yet, the children spend 40% of their time with me, I don't get 40% toward my costs. The system is rigged against those who are genuinely trying to do their best due to deadbeat parents in the past

"Reugny · Today 14:51
You can decrease the amount of money you put into the scheme to the minimum. Then once your account is empty pull out.

The vouchers are going directly to the childcare provider NOT your children's mother.

However just remember one day your kids will be teenagers and particularly if you don't get on with their mother they will think you didn't pay anything towards their up keep at the moment you can prove otherwise. Do you want to keep it that way?"

Have them 40% of the time and they certainly don't go without. I also put money into savings accounts for them both monthly, which will mean they both get around £20/£25k at 18. Have been told by their mother that's my choice, which it is, and that it should be money "she" gets....🙄

"vodkaredbullgirl · Today 14:52
Well stop paying for extra's."

So then she can say "You can't do this because Daddy doesn't want you to?"

If you can't afford it then go back to CMS and ask them to recalculate.
She's not wrong to expect that you cover half of the total cost of raising the child you share but if you are doing that or more then reduce it.
If she uses that to badmouth you to the child then go to court and attempt to get primary custody, citing parental alienation.

This!

Why are you not just using the vouchers to pay the childcare provider?.if you have them two days a week are they only weekends or any weekdays in which case you should be paying for childcare that day.

"DanceTheDevilBackIntoHisHole · Today 15:09
Why are you not just using the vouchers to pay the childcare provider?.if you have them two days a week are they only weekends or any weekdays in which case you should be paying for childcare that day."

To confirm, I have them 40% of the time during the week to include 2 nights, it should be 3 or 4 on alternative weeks, and no good reason not to, so I guess I'll just have to go the legal route as I also have pretty much the same costs as her and get zero money from her toward the children and the expectation that I then fund all extra-curricular activities. The childcare vouchers have been paid on top of the maintenance which I pay her.

Appreciate this website loves to slag off men as all being deadbeat Dads' but those of us trying to do our best really do get shafted.

I'm not trying to paint you as deadbeat at all. It's a genuine question. The principle of child maintenance is that the NRP pays all expenses during their time and a contribution towards the RP to balance the fact that the RP has them more and therefore bigger expenses.

So in theory you should be paying for childcare on 'your' days (using vouchers if you have them) plus CMS to mother.

"I'm not trying to paint you as deadbeat at all. It's a genuine question. The principle of child maintenance is that the NRP pays all expenses during their time and a contribution towards the RP to balance the fact that the RP has them more and therefore bigger expenses.

So in theory you should be paying for childcare on 'your' days (using vouchers if you have them) plus CMS to mother."

I am paying 50% (based on the above you think I should therefore reduce this if I am paying CMS as well?) of all childcare related costs, maintenance and then top ups for school activities, uniforms, sports along with taking every other Friday off work to help with childcare costs. (Fortunately I have a very understanding employer but also a contributor to my income dropping)

To confirm, I have them 40% of the time during the week to include 2 nights, it should be 3 or 4 on alternative weeks, and no good reason not to,

As other posters have pointed out you pay the childcare provider with the vouchers on the days you have them.

My DD was one of the last to get on the voucher scheme via her father, my DP.

He decides and then authorises the amount that each provider gets from the childcare vouchers. So the money used to go to her CM to pay part of her fees, now it goes on holiday clubs.

So if you have them on Tuesday night one week and not the other. You authorise 2 days of childcare voucher payments every other week.

so I guess I'll just have to go the legal route as I also have pretty much the same costs as her and get zero money from her toward the children and the expectation that I then fund all extra-curricular activities. The childcare vouchers have been paid on top of the maintenance which I pay her.

There is no legal route for you to go down.

"so I guess I'll just have to go the legal route as I also have pretty much the same costs as her and get zero money from her toward the children and the expectation that I then fund all extra-curricular activities. The childcare vouchers have been paid on top of the maintenance which I pay her"

In terms of 50/50 overnighters. I will pay the children's way absolutely but the only reason she won't agree 50/50 is ££ - it is completely wrong that I have them 40% of the time they are not at school / with a childminder yet I pay 70%+ and then some.

You seem to have a fundamental misunderstanding of how CM is calculated - it already takes into account the number of nights spent with you and is reduced on that basis.

Use the vouchers to pay for childcare on your time if needed. Just as you should be paying for clothes, food, toiletries, hobbies on your time ON TOP of the child maintenance payment