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Original poster

Child Maintenance - no requirement to pay?

29 replies

CoffeeCup14 · 04/08/2025 08:34

Under what circumstances would a paying parent on universal credit have to pay £0 child maintenance? It's really frustrating me.

OP posts:

Meep2024 · 29/08/2025 18:35

mintydoggyv · 29/08/2025 15:17

Someone on single universal credit and with no capital or salary need to pay due to universal credit pay being so low . The case may occur that the mother may need to work depending on the age of the children , least to forget mum gets 30 pounds a week child support per child thus upping her universal credit to a much higher level than a ex husband .

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The mothers income isn't taken into account.

IkeaJesusChrist · 29/08/2025 18:40

Even if someone is on collect and pay there's still no guarantee that the RP will get what is owed.

Blondeshavemorefun · 29/08/2025 20:38

Surely with collect and pay they take it out of their benifits before they get their uc

Meep2024 · 30/08/2025 08:26

Blondeshavemorefun · 29/08/2025 20:38

Surely with collect and pay they take it out of their benifits before they get their uc

You'd think so wouldn't you? I've had collect and pay on the CMS claim for 3 years. I've had one payment when he was in work (that took two years to get) and one when he first went on UC (DDB order last October - first payment this June). Found a job so triggered a review from the start of Aug after the new DDE order. Went straight back to UC which triggered another review in the same month which means no payments until Oct (I won't get anything then either despite assurances that I will - we've been here before).

Don't forget CMS is DWP and how they chase anyone who owes them money even if it's a genuine mistake. He owes thousands in child support now so must have clocked up enough in C&P fees arrears too but the same man who told me he wouldn't be paying child support 'because the state give you money' (child benefit) manages to get CMS to feel sorry for them every time.

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