As maintenance doesn't count for benefits the taxpayer comments,are irrelevant. Can claim even if getting £1000 a month in maintenance.
You are absolutely correct, however my issue is with the assertion that because women like the OP can claim benefits its ok for a man who said "I dont want it, get an abortion" to not pay child support.
I know that CS isnt counted as income, and I am glad it isnt (at the moment) as there was a short period where it was and thanks to a non paying NRP my cousin was left with precisely £11 per week for gas, electric, clothes and food for her and her DD because her ex should have paid £X, so her income support was dropped accordingly. I am happy that my tax goes to support single parents of both sexes who need it, but I am not happy that those self same benefits are used as an excuse for deadbeats to get out of paying CS.
There was a thread recently where the NRP, who had left his DP and kids, said that he wouldnt pay because she got tax credits so he didnt have to.
The reason that CS isnt counted as income is because there seems to be this belief that as long as the child is getting what it needs then the NRP can treat CS as a choice and not a requirement.
We need non payment of CS to be treated as non payment of council tax or income tax, treated as benefit fraud (which it is when you think about it...) or child neglect and that should include impounding cars, goods, charges made on property and prison sentences within say 6 months of non payment. When it becomes as legally and socially unacceptable to shirk your responsibilities to your children as it is to beat them, then and only then will we see a change in this attitude. And THEN we can used CS as income when calculating benefits, not as a nice bonus that some get but many dont.
Oh and FYI....a man who pays for his child isnt being a good father purely on that basis, he is doing what he is supposed to do!