Chd maintenance - to wonder if this is perfectly legal.

[Addicted2Crisps]

My ex won’t contribute any child maintenance and everything is falling on me. He says he doesn’t work and doesn’t claim benefits so he doesn’t have to make contributions. He said he will be very honest and make contributions when he can. Obviously I cannot pay bills on a sporadic basis or ask the kids not to be hungry for the next six months/year.

He is sitting on his arse playing video games, I am willing to bet, and last time he spoke to my daughter, I heard him asking her what day it was.

I am working my butt off and trying to make ends meet obviously.

Will the child maintenance service take him on or will they just accept that he doesnt owe if he has no money?

How does he live? Unfortunately your DC has a deadbeat dad.
He isn't obliged to earn to support your dc.

You may be entitled to top up benefits.

Is it worth approaching his parents?

No child maintenance won’t do anything, my ex also “doesn’t work or claim benefits” child maintenance won’t do anything, he hasn’t worked in years

Unfortunately, if he has no income, he can’t pay. It’s as simple as that

Also they don’t investigate they just told me he could be living off a partner so won’t look into it

What money does he live off? How does he pay for his games/internet/phone?

If he's not working or claiming benefits there's nothing you can do, the CMS won't be interested because he doesn't have an income that maintenance can be deducted from. He basically owes you a percentage of nothing, which is still nothing.

The CMS will make all the right noises. However, they will be perfectly prepared to believe that a grown man can exist on thin air, basically. At the end of the day, if he’s not working legally he either has to be doing cash in hand jobs (which they can’t touch) or claiming benefits. How can he eat etc? Otherwise, he has someone else supporting him. Believe you me, I had this conversation so many times with the CMS. Basically, try it but be prepared to not get very far. The CMS only like dads who pay, basically the ones who don’t cause them any hassle…

He is a waster and this won't be lost on your DC as they grow older. They'll know who supported them and who didn't give a shit. Doesn't make things any easier in the here and now though, I know.

I never even bothered approaching CMS as I knew I'd get nowhere, in the same circumstances