CMS travel costs variation?!

[celine89]

So my child's father moved away, about 50 miles. I have never moved and live in the same place I always have.

We don't have a formal agreement for contact, he's not on the birth certificate and I go through CMS for maintenance as he never offered anything himself.

I agreed to him seeing our child every other weekend. However he rarely keeps up with this so it's very hit and miss.

I've had a letter from CMS today that he's applied for a variation to deduct his travel costs?!

I know this is a thing but AIBU to be really pissed off on principle???

I do almost 100% of the parenting without support, do all the driving around and admin for our child. I can't claim my fuel costs back can I how is the system fair?

He does nothing else, the least he can do is pay to drive down and see his child if he wants contact

Bump

And you say he moved and he doesn’t show up put it in writing and leave it then

How many nights is he supposed to be with his dad? According to cms. It will be on the paperwork somewhere.

Is this accurate?

If not, reply and let them know you want it adjusting.

Offer some evidence such as emails of your agreements and his cancellations.

Give evidence of how many times he actually sees the child. If it’s none there’s no travel to deduct is there. It’s not fair no op… it’s shit for women who are single parents still even in 2024. The CMS system is a scandal in the making imo

He has no overnights, just one day visit a fortnight, which he often doesn't make or changes the arrangement. Hasn't seen child in about a month now.

But will they just take his word for it?

No overnights. Is this reflected in the cms document?

You certainly need to respond to the cms. If you don't correct them they may take his word.

Send them a response.

"No variation is necessary as the NRP doesn't do regular visits. He's cancelled the last x number of visits" (enclose a screenshot if you can)

"Additionally, the NRP moved away from the home town where we met and where the dc attends school so should continue to meet the costs of this"