Child Maintenance

[Pollysplace78]

Ex doesn't declare his earnings and gets cash in hand. He is refusing to pay child maintenance because he says I earn enough. When I bring up the conversation, I get a ton of abuse. His last payment was in March 2025 to cover July & August 2024.
I have tried to play fair and be patient whilst he finds work but he is away most weekends, has had numerous partners that he wines and dines.
Enough is enough but I know when I contact CMS I will be loading the gun ready for firing my way.
Is there a rough time frame that this takes for them to action as I have avoided doing this for years because I know I will get a horrendous back lash?
Thank you

If he gets cash in hand income, a Child Maintenance claim is unlikely to achieve anything. He'll be showing as having no income so nothing to pay.

If he gets paid cash in hand it'll be a very long process.

They'll say "no income = no requirement"

You'll have to request a variation of lifestyle inconsistent with reported income and pushy for an investigation by CMS, and possibly HMRC.

Unfortunately, it won't be a remotely easy road to go down in those circumstances.

Initial application will take 6-8 weeks to complete. Payments can be longer is he is not compliant. Once you make an application raise a variation for the ground of unearned income on the basis that you believe income to be higher. Once this has been processed if you remain unhappy with the calculation you can request the case be referred to the financial investigations unit. They will not look at it until a variation has been considered

Thank you for replying.

It is abysmal that they are able to manipulate the system so that they do not have to contribute to their children.

Absolute disgrace 😡

Good luck OP.
CMS will believe him when he says he earns nothing. You have to go through a lot of processes and eventually arrive in Court where hopefully the truth comes out.
It’s a very long process.

Following as I have the same problem.

I dont know the ins and outs but consider reporting him for tax evasion separately.

Also £8 pw (or whatever paltry amount it is) is still better than nothing

You should also report the tax evasion to HMRC.

What accommodation does he live in, what vehicle does he own?

id start attacking, he’s might have a full on melt down - but i take it you don’t live with him.

tell him as he doesn’t pay you’re going to report him to HMRC because this is money for his children. When he starts just say it’s predictable you’d behave like this - you have choices, pay up for your children or pay for your children and tax