Reform Child Maintenance calculation: include daytime care and actual costs

Background

Reform the CMS calculation so payments reflect real care. Include all childcare time by paying parents, not just overnight stays. Automatically factor in costs related to travel and a child’s disabilities or long-term health conditions, rather than requiring a separate application for variation.

Additional details

We believe the calculation is outdated and unfair. It focuses mainly on income and overnight stays, ignoring daytime care. Requiring paying parents to apply for variations for travel and additional-needs costs is inconsistent and often inaccessible. This punishes involved parents and creates huge disparities between similar families. Reform is needed so payments reflect real care, shared responsibility, and the true cost of raising children — ensuring fairness and stability for both households.

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