Child Maintenance

[Humanswarm]

I have a query regarding CM that I hope someone may help with..

Once the resident parent begins to get payments I assume there is a letter sent out from CM informing them how much they are due to receive? Can anyone tell me if it just states the amount or is there a breakdown as to how they have come up with that figure? So for example does it give the non resident parents income/ does it state if he/she has any dependents?

Many thanks on advance, trying to get through to CM is a nightmare!

Yes it does show income and how they have calculated the payments.

Thanks for this! Do you happen to know of it shows any other details? Such as dependents?

Dependants of the non resident parent. Or if there are other children living with the non resident parent? Not 100% sure what you mean.

The resident does get a breakdown of earnings. It shows what the NRP earns yearly in order to show you what you are entitled to monthly. You also get yearly reviews in case income changes! Keep track OP

@Redpepperss @EVliving thanks so much for responding. Apologies @EVliving I wasn't being very clear, the dependents I was referring to were if the NRP has suddenly started living with someone new, who has children, would they be accounted for when making the assessment and would that show on the documents the RP receives..
The joys of divorce ladies..

Child maintenance is reduced if the NRP lives with a new partner who has children living in the same house, so v this will show in the reductions in the calculation letter.

Ahhh I see! I'm not entirely sure I don't even know if evidence like a BC would have to be provided to CMS. Following with interest hopefully someone will be able to tell you!

Thanks @horrayforharoldlloyd @Redpepperss that's interesting..it seems to me that when he only pays the very minimum he has to its slightly unfair that some is taken off for children who are not biologically his, and have only been on the scene a couple of months max..🤷‍♀️ I wasn't sure of this would happen but it appears so.

It seems odd to me because surely these DC own biological father should be providing for them so shouldn't need your ex to do so too.

@caringcarer exactly my thoughts! It's very confusing

Yes it does, I got a letter saying my child maintenance would be reduced as ex was responsible for another child… turned out it was sent in error 🤔

@BananaSlug that's not great is it? Thanks for letting me know though!

When are the children that the payer lives with not counted as children - is it the same 18 if not in education and 20 if the are? Can’t find this info anywhere.

@Jules2011 I believe it is the children/ child's parents still receives child benefit. I may be wrong, but I have been reading up as much as I can, and that seems to be the recurring answer.

@Humanswarm Thank you. It just seems impossible to find information like this. The whole thing is so frustrating. My ex is a high earner, so his payments are capped and I have to go to court to claim the right amount (not that I will as he can get quite emotionally abusive so I don’t go there). His new partners children that he has lived with one year affect my children’s support, it seems so wrong.

@Jules2011 yes, very similar circumstances here. I don't fully understand the system and how that is fair, as I would assume the new partners children are provided for by their biological parents?
But it doesn't seem that way. I do appreciate that not all non resident parents pay CM however assume a lot do!
So the new partner's children benefit from 3 incomes whilst my children get mine, and a lesser amount from their father??

@Humanswarm Crazy rules! it would be understandable if the new children were actually his!

I've always found it bonkers that it's reduced if NRP lives with other children. Surely the NRP step children should receive support from their other parent?

Not sure how much CM ask the non resident parent, or if its mandatory to say if there are children living with them that are not biologically theirs...or whether these men know the system and will use to their advantage?!
It's grossly unfair though! Regardless, I will carry on parenting whilst he has them 4 days a month and drops them off telling me how much they've eaten all weekend, and how much that's cost! Whilst using his wages on 3 children he's known 6 months..argh!