To: Ben Bradley Mansfield MP
Change how CMS payments calculated to make it fair for all
I believe that many will agree with me that there needs to be changed made to how CMS payment are calculated. Currently it is calculated on the paying parents income before tax, leaving most lower paid parents with little to no money to pay for day to day living.
My partner is a paying parent for 3 children he does not see due to contact being stopped in order for his ex to receive more money through CMS. We have a child of our own and yet only £40 will be deducted from the £1,100 monthly payments. I am currently unemployed and cannot work due to having a baby and the cost of child care, so all of the costs fall onto my partner. This has the potential to put us into poverty. Our child would only be seen as an equal (financially) if we split up and I put a claim in, which is shocking.
In some extreme cases, this could lead to a child being removed from the paying parent due to not having the finances to support their child.
The cost of day to day living for the paying parent is not currently took into consideration and so in most cases, there is no money left to live in general. If the paying parent is unable to pay the decided amount, the receiving parent can apply for this to change to collect and pay. This means the paying parent has no control over the money being taken from their wages, meaning paying for day to day living is impossible. This is considerably worse for parents unfortunate to have arrears.
There has been and continues to be a high number of suicides of paying parents due to the unreasonable demands from CMS.
I don’t believe we are the only ones suffering this way and there will be plenty of paying parents or partners of that will fully agree that something needs to change.
The government has the power to change this and save many families falling into poverty and help to keep many children with their biological parents.
I believe that CMS should be calculated on the paying parents NET pay. The following should also be taking into account when calculating how much to be paid:
1. Any unavoidable financial commitments of the paying parent. (Existing debts)
2. Current cost of living for the paying parent including rent/mortgage, household bills and essential shopping.
3. Deduction calculations for a new child should be made equal other children on the claim.
I also believe that personal information of the paying parent should not be passed on to the receiving parent. All the receiving parent needs to know is the the amount that they will be receiving.
My partner is a paying parent for 3 children he does not see due to contact being stopped in order for his ex to receive more money through CMS. We have a child of our own and yet only £40 will be deducted from the £1,100 monthly payments. I am currently unemployed and cannot work due to having a baby and the cost of child care, so all of the costs fall onto my partner. This has the potential to put us into poverty. Our child would only be seen as an equal (financially) if we split up and I put a claim in, which is shocking.
In some extreme cases, this could lead to a child being removed from the paying parent due to not having the finances to support their child.
The cost of day to day living for the paying parent is not currently took into consideration and so in most cases, there is no money left to live in general. If the paying parent is unable to pay the decided amount, the receiving parent can apply for this to change to collect and pay. This means the paying parent has no control over the money being taken from their wages, meaning paying for day to day living is impossible. This is considerably worse for parents unfortunate to have arrears.
There has been and continues to be a high number of suicides of paying parents due to the unreasonable demands from CMS.
I don’t believe we are the only ones suffering this way and there will be plenty of paying parents or partners of that will fully agree that something needs to change.
The government has the power to change this and save many families falling into poverty and help to keep many children with their biological parents.
I believe that CMS should be calculated on the paying parents NET pay. The following should also be taking into account when calculating how much to be paid:
1. Any unavoidable financial commitments of the paying parent. (Existing debts)
2. Current cost of living for the paying parent including rent/mortgage, household bills and essential shopping.
3. Deduction calculations for a new child should be made equal other children on the claim.
I also believe that personal information of the paying parent should not be passed on to the receiving parent. All the receiving parent needs to know is the the amount that they will be receiving.
Why is this important?
This affects all paying parents and I believe all should be equal. This current method of calculations does not support all parties as equals. E.g. my daughter (4months old) is not worth as much money as the 3 that my partner is paying maintenance for in the eyes of CMS. Paying parents are then expected to live off no money as it leaves no money left. This forces many paying parents out of work and homeless. I have read some many case studies on the amount of paying parents drive to suicide due to the unreasonable demands of CMS
