Within the original submission my daughters mother made to the CSA she said (although untrue) that my daughter only spent one night a month with me.
My daughter does not really get on with her mother and now only stays at her house because it is easier to get to school. Therefore she spends all weekends and holidays with me. Have I got grounds to go back to the CMA with this new information and request a re calculation?
I would say so - if the mother disputes it, then the CMS take the default position of one night per week, which is a 1/7th reduction. To get any more, you'd need to go back to court and get an order to make that arrangement formal.
@actd Thanks. And thanks for finally providing me with some sensible advice in this CMA minefield. I have been searching for this for months and really appreciate it.
I therefore have another question if I may; My daughter is 15 and intends, with my blessing, to go onto further education.
My understanding therefore is that I have to maintain payments until she is 20. I have heard however that after turning a certain age, I can redirect those payments to her rather than her mother. Could you possibly confirm whether this is true, and if so, at what age?
No, that's not true - basic idea is that as long as the mother is claiming child benefits, then payments go to the mother, which means until she leaves non advanced education or age 20, whichever happens first, you continue to pay to the mother (assuming mother doesn't continue to claim child benefit fraudulently).
Also, if she's going into further education, will she still need to live with her mother?
BTW, the 1/7th reduction - you may have to press CMS for this, they don't give in too easily from what I've heard, but worth persevering.