How can I know if ex is claiming universal credits?

[CatEatCatWorld]

He's self employed, not working atm due to covid and I'm pretty sure him and his partner have claimed UCs but they're denying it so I'm getting no maintenance. Is going through cms the only way to know? Really wanted to stay away from them.

CMS is best if you cannot come to an agreement.

However be aware that UC awards are based on the bare minimum people can live off so if you do receive any maintenance it wont be much if anything at all.

I think I remember if you were on the old JSA it was £5 per week so I would question if it was worth the hassle if before lockdown he was good at paying.

There is absolutely no point going through the CMS right now, they are taking anyone’s word for it that they have no income. They’ve stopped all investigations.

If he was on uc you'd have to wait several months anyway. The £20 start fee would take a month to be covered by the £6pw maintenance you'd receive. Probably not worth your while OP

It's shit but it isn't worth the bother. You'd only get £5 a week if they're on UC.

If they're claiming and not working, only if they claimed right at the start would they have been paid. Its a 5 weeks wait.
And if they did you're entitled to £7a week if he's not working.
Right now, if he's always paid and over cms rates, I'd cut him some slack.

You barely get a dime if they’re on benefits anyway so I wouldn’t even be arsed, it’s not worth the rigmarole. As a PP said as well, CMS aren’t doing a thing right now.

He doesnt usually pay. We have 3 kids so I think its £30 a month according to calculators (it's this even when hes working as he doesnt earn a lot) he asked me the other day how to input earnings into UCs (and I told him) so pretty sure hes claiming, but his partner is denying it. It's more the principle than the actual money, but £30 a month is over £300 a year I could be buying my kids something with.