Considering closing CMS case after years of minimal payments, AIBU?

[CMSHell]

I currently have an open CMS case and receive £28 a month for my children. When I first opened it, I knew he wasn’t working, but I assumed at some point he would have to get a job. It’s now been 10 years and he still isn’t working.

At this point I’ve pretty much given up and am considering closing the case so I can just have a clean break. We have no contact with him at all (his choice) and tbh the £28 is just a monthly reminder of how much he gets away with.

Has anyone else cancelled their CMS case or just decided not to claim? If I close it, will they notify him? I’d rather they didn’t but I assume they would have to. There are some arrears owed, but realistically I don’t think I’ll ever see that money anyway.

I wouldn’t, what would be the benefit? I think you have a duty to your children to keep claiming.

No, I wouldn't close it.

If he's choosing not to work to avoid paying for the upkeep of his children, that's spiteful of him; and I would return that spite by allowing him to waste his life that way.

a duty to claim £7?

Yep. Close it.
Would he find out? If so, even better

I'm in exactly the same situation. I receive £28 per month. He apparently earns 3k a year as a SE plumber. There's £600 arrears. I keep it open out of some weird optimism that the system will improve. It probably won't though.

Put the £28 into your child’s isa so that they have something at 18.

There is no way that a plumber earns £3K.

My sons dad owes about £10k and I’m keeping it open in case he dies and they can claim it from
his estate! I do hate receiving the letters saying he earns less than £7 a week though. As if.

What would you gain by closing? If you keep getting that for a further 8 years and save it for the dc it will be a decent amount for them and the letters etc should be a constant reminder to him of what a shit dad he is. And you never know, he might start paying more at some point.

it’s been 10 years so wont hold my breath, its just a constant reminder of how he gets away with it all i guess that’s what i would gain by closing it so not being constantly reminded.

no estate to claim from unfortunately!

Can you set up a separate high interest account the money can just go into and you don’t have to think about it?

That’s possible but it doesn’t stop the texts, emails and letters I feel like I need a clean break, I’d probably just want to keep it open if he saw them but as he doesn’t I just want to cut all ties and act as if he doesn’t exist to us like he does about them

I used to get something like £14 a month. He has another child he doesn't see and the mother got the same amount. She eventually closed her case, probably for the same reasons you've suggested. Fast forward a few years and it's increased each year, and I now recieve £240 a month. 10 years is a long time for him to not be working, so might not be much hope in your case, but hold tight. No point in closing it.

I would want to continue to make it tricky for him to arrange his finances. If you cancel he will be able to start earning more and not have to jump through the hoops to hide his real income.

Yeah everyone told me to keep it open and he would “have to work some day” but seems not. I suspect he is claiming some form of disability benefits.