To think that CM should be made harder to avoid?

[HudYerWeisht]

Just through a couple of threads I have seen in the last fews days and my own personal experience which I know is shared by many others it has come to light that it seems to be fairly easy to avoid or lower CM payments.

Is it made too easy for NR parents to do this or is it just me that thinks so?

Some of the problem I have come up against, some from the threads and some from other PPs experience include:-

Giving up work to be a SAHP for further children or step children.

Giving up work and working cash in hand.

Going self employed and being economical with the truth re salary

Giving up work to enter into full time education.

Employers (usually of small companies) being economical with the truth re NRP salary.

Moving abroad to work.

Giving up work and claiming benefits.

Giving CMS/CSA the run around.

Constant job hopping.

Moving in with someone who has children

Having further children

Sometimes the list seems endless. I personally am yet to see a single penny towards my DD (almost 3, separated/divorced from 7 weeks) despite him having been working for the past 7 months. He has taken advice from various FFJ posters (yawn) on how to actively avoid contributing financially towards DD. Refusing to CMS the majority of the time until threats of wages arrest then getting in touch to say the details they hold over his salary are incorrect and then when asked for proof starts ignoring again. I appreciate arrears are accruing but if they never get any money from him my DD will never see the benefit of that. He is not the most reliable worked and it beggars belief he has been employed this long. I very much doubt that she will ever see a single penny.

I seem to have on these boards also come across a lot of people who support the NRPs right to change their circumstances at the expense of the RP, in most cases the lowered amount has to be picked up from somewhere else and that place is usually the RPs wage packet even though quite often they are struggling to make ends meet themselves.

I fully appreciate that everyone is vulnerable to unintentional unforeseen financial hardship but if a NRP makes an intentional choice within their life that will directly affect CM payments should they still be held accountable for their existing financial obligation they already have towards their existing children.

Is it too easy for some to slip under the radar thus leaving some RP to pick up the full financial responsibility? Should there be stricter enforcement? Penalties towards NRP for not paying towards their children's upbringing?

If a RP decided to radically over-hall their lifestyle and not be able to contribute towards their children's upbringing the children would be removed. It's that simple really. And yet there doesn't seem to be anything for a NRP to duck out of paying a single penny if they know how.

DISCLAIMER: I am not referring to all NRP, there are plenty great one's out there. Unfortunately I just picked a wrong 'un.

More to the point has any body decided exactly who my ex owes money to yet?

You

Maybe people need to send HMRC the receipts for their children's clothes along with a copy of their children's birth certificate for a vat refund.

Late to the thread
I think taking passports from NRP's would help, but only if they are apparently earning minimum wage or less. In this scenario it would be unlikely they could afford to have a holiday, unless they are being supported elsewhere, which should be being monitored. I am sure I am projecting, but as someone who knows exp is going abroad more than 4 times a year, with his old company (who he apparently doesn't work for), there should be no harm in taking away his passport, other than him having to prove why he needs it. Surely when filling out visas he has to put 'business' when collecting awards and working. If he is able to afford 4 holidays a year to the other side of the planet, surely he can afford more than £5pw for DD?

*Your proposal is that each parent should be liable for 50% of their DCs costs.

But, the RP should be entitled to benefits towards/covering their share because she they have to care for the DC.

The NRP isn't entitled to any benefits, regardless of the proportion of time the DC spends with them, or their ability to pay.

Can anyone else see the flaw in this as a social strategy? Like, it's pretty damn cushy for the RP, and is likely to significantly increase the burden on the benefits system?*

Sorry people but I agree that there is a flaw in this.

If financial care is shared 50:50 then so should the benefits.

Sorry the top bit should be in bold and under should read that I agree that there is a flaw in sharing complete 50:50 responsibility... Stupid phone.

Lioninthesun If that is done for NRP then the same should go for RPs. I know of someone who I work with who is constantly complaining that her children's NRP needs to contribute more, that she has had a row with them about him not contributing towards the holiday that had just had (even though she admits that he pays way above the CSA rate) and that she has no money despite being on a large amount of tax credits.

She has just come back from a holiday in a 4* hotel in Mexico and is going to Barbados in the Sumer holidays!!

That is why I said when the NRP is apparently earning minimum wage or less. I get £5 a week, and I know ex is earning around £50-60k. I think it would stop people in this position being able to work abroad without having to declare it.

People who are paying a useful amount or above JSA or minimum wage shouldn't have to worry as it is possible they could save for a holiday in RL.

I don't understand why NRP aren't allowed benefits. My ex was on JSA for 6 months while working and I have never been on benefits in my life, so I don't know much about this area.