Advice for anyone seeking CM from self employed ex

[Raindropsonrose]

Also posted in AIBU for traffic.

The CMS only factor in PAYE which is usually the £12K tax free allowance. This is what CM is based on. However if your ex is self employed, dividends are classed as unearned income until you contact the CMS and apply for an ‘income variation’. Only then will they include dividends in the monthly calculations.

Thought this would be useful for anyone who feels their ex is fiddling the books and you are receiving a low CM amount.

Thanks for that . Yes, there does seem to be a Mumsnet myth that self employed people don't have to pay child maintenance so hopefully people will understand that figures need to be based on dividends.