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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this rule needs looking at

43 replies

Imissivillage · 15/08/2023 15:47

I found out this week that because ExDP claims UC in a joint claim with his new wife for her 2 daughters childcare costs, my child maintenance will be dropping to £7 per week the same as if he were on income support or jobseekers allowance.

The problem being he earns 60k and his wife not much less.

AIBU to this this rule of "he's on benefits" despite his income means he only has to pay the token amount is ridiculous and needs to be looked at?

OP posts:
Changeling78 · 15/08/2023 15:50

How do they claim UC when they earn that much?

OhYouSweetSweetFool · 15/08/2023 15:50

Is he seriously sticking to the £7 per week, rather than actually contributing fairly to his own children being fed and clothed? What a prince!

Namechangedagain20 · 15/08/2023 15:53

From the ni direct site it looks as if he should still be paying more?

The reduced rate will apply if your gross weekly income is more than £100 but less than £200. You will pay a standard amount of £7 a week for the first £100 of your income plus a percentage of the gross weekly income for the rest of your income.

So as he earns more than £200 a week he shouldn’t be paying only £7?

Totesbabes · 15/08/2023 15:53

I don’t think they can claim UC if they earn £60k each. We have small children and on a lot less and we are not entitled to anything other than tax free childcare

Namechangedagain20 · 15/08/2023 15:55

Actually the websites a bit confusing with how it’s laid out, could you phone the child maintenance service to check its correct? Although as others have said, I don’t see how they’re claiming UC anyway.

Original poster
Imissivillage · 15/08/2023 20:08

OhYouSweetSweetFool · 15/08/2023 15:50

Is he seriously sticking to the £7 per week, rather than actually contributing fairly to his own children being fed and clothed? What a prince!

Yes, he's vile. Doesn't even speak to our child anymore but everyone thinks he is Mr Perfect and I'm the one who has stopped contact!

OP posts:
Original poster
Imissivillage · 15/08/2023 20:10

Totesbabes · 15/08/2023 15:53

I don’t think they can claim UC if they earn £60k each. We have small children and on a lot less and we are not entitled to anything other than tax free childcare

When I've played about with the entitled to calculator I think they may have embellished their childcare costs to qualify.

OP posts:
Perfectlyblended · 15/08/2023 20:14

This makes 0 sense,

full time I earn around 60k a year ( although part time at the moment ) and on 60 k even with disability elements we wouldn’t be entitled to anything
also my daughters dad was on UC and it was still based of his wages.

BennyBlancofromtheBronx · 15/08/2023 20:16

Imissivillage · 15/08/2023 20:10

When I've played about with the entitled to calculator I think they may have embellished their childcare costs to qualify.

Show quote history

I thought you had to provide evidence of any childcare costs?

Arrgghhdecisions · 15/08/2023 20:18

This makes no sense. My DH and I earn about 75k between us. He pays 450 a month in CM to his ex, and we are only eligible for tax free childcare (rightly so), and even that is capped. So how on earth is a combined income of 120k even being considered for any UC element?

CandyflossKaren · 15/08/2023 21:29

You 'think' they may have?

Op, don't you have anything better to do?

LolaSmiles · 15/08/2023 21:32

It's likely that they've filed as a household for tax-free childcare.
This is something most households are entitled for. It's not being on benefits.

A household income over over £100,000 won't get universal credit.

Original poster
Imissivillage · 15/08/2023 23:22

CandyflossKaren · 15/08/2023 21:29

You 'think' they may have?

Op, don't you have anything better to do?

When I have lost out on any meaningful contribution towards my children from their father why should I just drop it, which is what you are suggesting.

OP posts:
Mumofsend · 15/08/2023 23:23

This is factually impossible

CandyflossKaren · 15/08/2023 23:25

Don't you mean when your CHILDREN have lost out.... not you!

Ifeelsuchflutterings · 15/08/2023 23:26

CandyflossKaren · 15/08/2023 21:29

You 'think' they may have?

Op, don't you have anything better to do?

Like try to make sure the children's father actually pays more than £7 per week to support his children? I'm pretty sure that's what the OP is trying to do..

Unless you think she needs to do something "better" than that too

NewName122 · 15/08/2023 23:28

Mines the same. I see him at work often as he works in our city centre, yet I get £7pw as he claims UC to top up his, his wife and 2 kids income. He works yet its still £7pw. Ridiculous.

Merryoldgoat · 15/08/2023 23:28

You honestly think a couple earning £120k are eligible for universal credit?

Ifeelsuchflutterings · 15/08/2023 23:30

CandyflossKaren · 15/08/2023 23:25

Don't you mean when your CHILDREN have lost out.... not you!

The chances are high in a situation like this the mother actually loses out not the children

There are single mothers out there skipping meals to make sure their children eat. Or doing without clothes to make sure their children have clothes. You have no idea whether the OP is in this position or not.

Either way if the father is essentially no longer paying, because quite frankly £7 per week is insulting, then of course the mother loses out because she now has to cover more or less 100% of the costs out of her income.

Turkey18 · 15/08/2023 23:34

How is he earning 60k and claiming benefits? Is he self employed? Report him for fraud.

Thedogscollar · 15/08/2023 23:35

Merryoldgoat · 15/08/2023 23:28

You honestly think a couple earning £120k are eligible for universal credit?

Exactly. Complete bullshit.
Annoying to people that actually depend on UC.

Motherofjessie · 15/08/2023 23:40

CMS is a total joke! Spends a fortune sending letters telling you your CM is 0 as in he is a child, a prisoner or whatever etc Then says he has told them he is paying maximum every month when not paid any for years. Yes they will investigate then 2 days later another letter due 0! WTF!

grumpycow1 · 15/08/2023 23:41

CandyflossKaren · 15/08/2023 21:29

You 'think' they may have?

Op, don't you have anything better to do?

You think it’s ok that he contributes £28 a week to his child when earning £60k? Ok then….

grumpycow1 · 15/08/2023 23:41

*month

Zanatdy · 15/08/2023 23:44

They definitely won’t be earning that kind of income if they’ve got a claim for UC. I do think that’s really shit if they can get out of paying maintenance that way