Child Maintenance has dropped from £400 to £49 per month

[SingleScotsMum]

Long story short…
my manipulative and emotionally abusive ex has very little to do with my two boys. Sees them overnight once weekly but neither of my kids want to go.
Ex has threatened to go self employed so “he doesn’t have to pay me a penny” and lo and behold, he’s quit his job and gone self employed. He’s now only obliged to pay £7 per week, per child until tax return (April 27).
Any advice?
Also… How do I save £400 per month??? In work full time (45+ hours) and have little support. Help!

Wow What a Grade A cunt. THIS is the shit that the Government needs to tackle instead of moaning about single mums and NEETS.

THEN they have the gall to wonder why the birth rate is dropping. Sorry @SingleScotsMum not much help to you except to say this makes me fume and im child free so no skin in the game

Do you claim universal credit? Have you gone through all your DDs to see if there’s anything you can cut or get cheaper. Are you claiming the single person council tax?

It’s rubbish but I’m not sure there’s much you can do about it unfortunately.

Would moving to a smaller house or cheaper area be an option?

No advice, I’m sorry to say. Ex was paying a paltry amount (£20 per week) and then quit his job, so now he pays nothing. It’s so hard to get any restitution when they’re self-employed. I wish you the best of luck with it.

This is his child. His child.

Sorry, his kids.

Only solution??

You'll have to go 50/50 on childcare. He has the kids half the time.

Suggest this.

Drop this kids off at his and say you'll do 50/50 from now on

Another example of how child support is utterly broken in the UK.

Feckless fathers enabled, extortionate amounts for nurseries.

I’m sorry about this op.

The way we allow men to walk away from their responsibilities as parents is an absolute disgrace.

Please don’t do this OP. Children are not pawns.

I'd say let him have then more tell him u working a extra job to cover the loss

My ex did the same - didn't pay anything, not even the backlog of payments that he had said he would pay. What a cunt......

awful suggestion to do to children who don’t want to go.

Shame on the posters recommending OP to drop the children off to an abusive father!

Why do people write pointless posts like this? The kids won’t even go for one night, as if they’re going to go 50/50. And OP can’t just decide this anyway.

Surely there will be a tax return for Year End 2026 (although deadline will be Jan 27). I’d be asking CMS for a mandatory reconsideration. It’ll take ages so start it now, it’ll get backdated.

What a shit . It's not like £400 a month is excessive . It 's only £100 a week for two kids . Who does he thinks is going to lose out ? It's is own kids . These guys think that they are punishing you . Years from now he will ponder as to why his sons want nothing to do with him .

What a twat. So sorry @SingleScotsMum

I know you shouldn’t have to but have you suggested he pays for things directly rather than just having to send you a lump sum.

Some men have issues with not knowing where the money goes (not that that should be an issue) but if you were to suggest he pay for the breakfast/after school club directly or swimming lessons etc he may be more willing to.

You will get use to it, I get £7 a week for 4 kids. always have done. Don’t even factor it in anymore.

Can you flip it around? If your kids dont want to go anyway, can you say to him you understand he’ll need to build his business and since he cant financially contribute can you agree a reduction in visits?

CMS are fkn useless. My ex did exactly the same. It's despicable. I contacted my MP but it was a waste of time. I don't have any useful advice. I hope karma gets him and yours. Have you broken down your budget to see if there's anywhere you can save?

Sorry Ive just realised my response doesn’t help you recover £400!

What a horrible man!
I’d be going through bank statements and trying to bring bills down
Also, can you reduce anything expense wise Is the first thing but most people have already done that with the cost of living!!!

Can you sell some bits on vinted?

id also speak to the kids school and let them know about this change of circumstances they might be able to help with subsiding school trips and I know when my friends partner left her the school were good and from charitable funds gave her 3 months of not having to pay for school dinners - she wasn’t eligible for pupil premium but they did it on a temporary basis until she got things sorted.

id also check entitled too - the benefits calculator and see if you are eligible for anything you aren’t getting.

im sorry he’s done this it’s a horrible thing to do.

Has he got life insurance….

😉

Did you also say you needed a new patio @SingleScotsMum ? Happy to help x

My ex ‘retired’ so cut his original income by 2/3, meaning a significant reduction in maintenance payments for our two young daughters. He was 56.

They can be utter bastards.