CMS reduction due to new baby

[alwayscauseastir]

I currently receive £218 per month for my daughter from a previous relationship. Since the birth of my child, her father has gone on to have another child and today I've found out his partner is expecting another. Does anyone know how much my new payments are likely to be? Whilst I'm not totally dependent on his payment, it certainly does help so I want to prepare before his baby arrives. Thanks.

I'd call CMS as they're aware and also lobby as much as you're able to change the rules. However good your relationship is he shouldn't be able to carry on having kids to detriment of existing kids. Same rules apply both ways. Hope he has prepared for new baby

He has never met our daughter so I doubt very much she enters his head. But I do find it disappointing that our payments go down each time he has another child. I don't think any lobbying will change things sadly. So I just want to be prepared as I put half the money currently in her savings account. I'm not sure I'll be able to afford this if the amount reduces significantly.

@kitk - lobby for the rules to change to what?

he shouldn't be able to carry on having kids to detriment of existing kids

What do you suggest, castration?

Not castration, responsibility. A change to the system that means payments don't go down for subsequent kids. I won't comment on the OPs financial situation as I don't know it, but if you want another child you need to do it on the basis that you can afford to do so. This doesn't seem to apply to parents who leave their original family and go on to have more kids- they can just pay less for the existing kids if they have more. The cost of raising the existing child does not decrease however

@kitk
I completely disagree. If a couple were to have more children after having one, the money spent on just the one child would decrease. Every time couples go on to have more children, they don’t keep increasing their salary to compensate for the most part. It may not be noticeable but it happens.
So the same principle applies to separated parents, as well.

OP, I’d suggest a call to CMS.

plantainchips that would be the couple making the decision based on their family situation, not one person unilaterally making a decision that effects the other without their input at all, so it's not the same principle at all.

On the plus side it doesn't go down anymore after he's had 3 kids so maybe budget for that figure with any extra as a bonus.

@DifficultPifcultLemonDifficult

I understand that but they’ve broken up and obviously Ex’s don’t have a say in each other’s personal lives including if they go on to have more children.

I understand both arguments here and obviously it's a touchy subject. But if I was hard of cash, my daughter would be adversely affected by the choices he's making. I bank half her money, and the other half goes towards her social activities. In order to continue her social activities, I will have to lessen the amount I put in her band for her to use later in life. It's that which I don't think the absent parent appreciates. His children probably won't be adversely affected as they don't know any different, but in my case his first child is and will lead to changes in our financial planning.