Child maintenance

[Pinkelephant2025]

My two children’s father has never paid child maintenance and I have never bothered to ask him for any money as the relationship was toxic and domestic violence, the guy is a complete waste of space so we haven’t been in contact and it’s been around 10 years now since I came out of the relationship. He hasn’t seen the children since I left him. I often wonder how would I go about getting payments as I do find it a joke he has never paid a penny for them since we split and the fact he is getting away with it isn’t right, he is on both children’s birth certificates. Any advice please

Apply to CMS

Apply via CMS. But don't get your hopes up that you'll actually get anything.

I’d be careful as it may make him want to seek contact but up to you if that’s a good thing or not

@FlowerPowerShowerthis is why I’ve never bothered as well because I don’t want him seeking contact, they’ve made up their own minds that they want nothing to do with him and I’d hate for it to cause a backlash of him harassing me and the kids. I don’t think it’s a good idea after all I just feel it’s a shame for the kids to miss out on money that should rightly be theirs

How old are your children now?

@MannersAreAll the kids are now 16 and 13 I have looked and seen that payments are still required up till 20 if the child is in full time education. Is this a thing?

Only if they're not in further education. So while they're at school or in approved training or certain college courses. Basically while you're entitled to child benefit.

So if they leave school for uni or work then you stop being entitled.

Generally it stops at 18 for most people (there are some that are different though) so it really depends what you think your kids will do at 16 and 18 re education if it's likely to be worthwhile.

Do you know what's become of their father at all? My ex, for example, was never worth chasing as he lived in benefits his whole life because of drug and drink issues so wouldn't have been due to pay any more than £7 a week.

@MannersAreAll Thank you for explaining. With regards to what’s become of him I don’t know, the last I knew he was working full time and had the job for years but did end up leaving and assume he most likely would have been claiming or trying to claim benefits whether he got himself another job I’m not sure but that’s made me decide even more so it’s really not worth the hassle if he isn’t actually working and definitely not if he will end up causing any more stress and grief for the kids.

He won’t have their details to harrass them. Block him if he tries to contact you. He should be paying for his kids.