FNF Newsletter - 9th April 2017

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Welcome to our latest Newsletter

Just a very brief note to let you know of the opening of a new FNF Group (smaller Branch) between Brighton and Worthing.  There has been some local promotion but we apologise for the short notice of the first meeting.

A full Newsletter will go out soon and we will also be announcing our AGM which will take place in June.

Brighton and Worthing Group Opening

We are delighted to announce that three volunteers, Craig, Tom and Harvey are opening a new FNF Group tomorrow night and on the second Tuesday of each month between 7.30pm and 10pm.
 
Location:
Southwick Community Centre
24 Southwick Street
Southwick
West Sussex
BN42 4TE

Contact: Brighton-Worthing.Meetings@fnf.org.uk

Free tea, coffee and biscuits will be available and the team will welcome anyone who comes, dads, mums, grandparents, friends, girlfriends, boyfriends. So, whether you need help or just want to give our volunteers some support, please come.
 
We get regular enquiries from callers based in the area and we wish the new Group all the best in getting this local meeting going!
 

Child Maintenance Service (CMS) Tip

Under CMS, Child Arrangement Order contact details take precedence over the opinions of the receiving parent regarding time spent with the paying parent.  CMS rules state that CMS assessments must align with the terms of the court order. CMS staff are sometimes unaware of this.
 
We are aware of cases in which the receiving parent calls the CMS and claims the child is now spending less time with the paying parent, asking for a larger CMS pay-out.
 
Under the CMS (new) system, contact deniers will not benefit from ignoring arrangements that have been court ordered unless:

• These are agreed by the paying parent.
• Or the receiving parent applies to the court and obtains a variation of the order.

The significance of this is that the receiving parent will not arbitrarily benefit financially from breaking a contact order. This also ensures the onus is on the receiving parent if they want the court to reduce contact.
 
This was confirmed to us by both CMS policy and operations teams. If it is not happening, then we’d like to know. Email us at admin@fnf.org.uk.
 
NB: This applies to the current CMS, not CSA (now closed) services.

With best wishes from FNF

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