Ex partner has stopped working to avoid child maintenance

[Mummblebee]

Hi all,

My ex partner works, but it's on a contract basis and not a set permanent role. I plan on applying for child maintenance from him but have been made aware by his mum that he is so depressed that he has not been working. I honestly think it's a cop out and he has stopped working to avoid having to pay child mainly when the child comes. Can anyone advise on this? For example if he starts to work again in the future will his child maintenance be reassessed?

Theres nothing much you can do if he's not working . if he is on benefits or claiming job seekers then I think you can take something like £5 a week from it. Once he returns to work ne should be able to be re-assessed on his new income..

I can’t advise but sympathise as my brother in law gave up work so he could stop paying maintenance to his ex wife (his 1st wife)... however this left my sister in law (his second wife) a pickle as she obviously relied on his income as well as his ex wife too.... it’s all a mess as not working led to him becoming depressed and now further down the line he’s become a heavy drinker too...

Hope things work out better for you OP.

I've never understood this as a strategy, the most I think he'd pay in maintenance is about 20% of his income, so why give up the 80% he'd keep for himself.