CMG advice

[Debop24]

Hi, after some advice - i have paid maintenance for my eldest child since i split with his abusive mother many years ago. We had an agreement and all was well. She wanted me to pay more becuase she wants to reduce her hours as doesnt like to work and i explained that i couldn't and i was paying what i could. She's spat her dummy out and after 14 years gone through CMS...fine, nothing i can do about that. Problem is, i have another child that i pay for (Via arrangement) on the other side of the country from a one night stand. its been dna test confirmed. I pay and don't see the child who doesn't even know i exist (I know, I'm a terrible person, its complicated)

i have proof of payments going back years and i literally cannot afford her calculation plus those payments, so obviously have to declare it to CMG...but what will they tell her? will they simply say "reduced by X as paying for another child" or will they give details of who the other person is? I cant deal with the drama and i know she will use this. thanks

Have you put your figures into the child maintenance calculator?

If not then I suggest you do, this will take into account income and outgoing for any other dependents.

https://www.gov.uk/calculate-child-maintenance

Wishing you all the best.

I can't see why they should give the details of the other child and their mother to your ex - that seems like total breach of her privacy. You however will not have any privacy as in the eyes of CMS you're an "evil absent father".

Try contacting CMS to ask what they'll declare.

Bear in mind it's possible that your ex will eventually be able to work out the age of the "other" child if they're older than the "legitimate" child. If you claim the reduction now and stop claiming in 3 years time your ex would be able to deduce the "other" child is at least 16 when you stop claiming the reduction.

You might be better off trying the single parent board as you'll have more resident parents on that one :)