AIBU to think he's "at it"?!

[M4MMY]

So... Ex. Long old story but after being forced to finally pay maintenance for our 3 children, he's told the CMS that he and his girlfriend have split up and he now pays her maintenance for their 2 children. They are, in fact, still together.

Why has he claimed they're not? My gut feeling is that it reduces the amount of maintenance that he then has to pay to me. Does anyone know if that's the case? Would he pay me more if he admitted to living with his orher children?

I know... I always think the worst. It's not without cause!!

CMS would make a reduction for children living with him. Not sure if it would make more of a reduction than him claiming not to live with them though.

Yes (assuming no overnight stays; it's more complicated then). So at the moment, that 19% goes to your children only. If he claims not to be living with his other two children, the 19% will be split evenly between the five children, so you'll only get 11.4% instead.

"On the basic rate, if you’re paying for:

One child, you’ll pay 12% of your gross weekly income
Two children, you’ll pay 16% of your gross weekly income
Three or more children, you’ll pay 19% of your gross weekly income"

If you can provide evidence that he is still living there hand it over to them. Might be pulling this as a way for the main parent to claim single parent benefits.

Running some made up figures through the CMS calculator it seems he would have to pay you more if he was living with the other children. So he could well be on the fiddle.

Thank you so much. I KNEW it. No way of proving it, I don't think but I just knew. So typical!

Ugh, what a pathetic excuse for a man. Just know that your children will one day know what you did for them and think you're a superhero for doing it alone. I had a deadbeat father and was raised by a single mum, and I think she was amazing.

Thank you Anna. I've calmed down now! Just going to treat it as another little bit of proof that I did right by my kids when I walked out, and another little bit of comfort that the fact he lost interest in them was probably for the best - they're better off without him.

They could have split up but still living under the same roof. It is possible to claim single benefits whilst still sharing a residence for a period of time, ie. end of tenancy, selling of property.

If he is paying her maintenance, then he would have a case. Of course, if they are lying, are still a couple and not looking to move/sell, they would be committing fraud, but without time to prove it, it's not easy to evidence.

I don't think I'd ever be able to prove it...

A friend of a friend on social media was congratulating them on a recent anniversary, posting pictures of the two of them together as her "favourite couple" - which they both "liked" and the girlfriend replied to. There's no doubt in my mind that they're very much together.

There's also no doubt in my mind that he will have covered his tracks well. I wouldn't be surprised if he WAS paying her "maintenance" and had had some bank statements sent to his brother's for "proof of address".

He was always good at covering his own back!