Claiming Benefits to avoid CMS

[MumandSon05]

Good afternoon,

I'd like to query if anybody has been through similar with a paying parent of CMS.
All payments stopped in March 2020 due to losing his job and claiming benefits. He's since worked, but either self employed or cash in hand.
He's had 2 court cases, each with the mothers of his 2 children, and has said in court that he works, yet it seems unless he's on PAYE, nothing gets reinstated.

Am I wrong? Is there a way to highlight his earnings?

I haven't spoken with CMS for a long time, I gave up when I asked for advice. Ex was claiming UC, and working (every detail of which was highlighted on the business insta) but I was told to contact the fraud team. That was peak pandemic and I'm sure they were busy with fraudulent claims.

Do I try again?

He's very lavish with his lifestyle, and our DS is constantly being told of holidays, weekends away, new games consoles etc.

Currently, his contact with our DS is facetime only. Court ordered.

Sorry don’t have an answer for you as I’m going through a similar thing. My sons dad hasn’t paid anything for a year since we split, despite me putting in a claim via CMS. He initially quit his job, claimed UC (so was paying the minimum £7 a week, but managed to avoid this after a month by changing his bank account!) and now is working self employed and still claiming UC. I initially let it lie as he was seeing our son. However chose to take it further when he discarded him.
I’d advise you to contact cms. Give them as much info as you can about where he works/ how you know this etc… they were very helpful when I phoned them and I had a follow up call around a week later to say they were contacting both HMRC and DWP to see what earnings he was declaring. The lady who phoned me back also asked if I had a phone number for his workplace so they are seeming to at least be looking into it. I haven’t heard anything since but it’s only been a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed.
But I would contact them anyway if I were you. They are busy and unless I was just lucky with the people I spoke to, they are willing to help

My ex has been claiming benefits for 5 years, meaning he’s only ever had to pay £7 per week for our 4 children. I gave up and closed the case. (I know he does something on the side but I won’t be reporting him)

Im in the exact same position, ex claims UC despite owning his own business, all cash in hand. Been going on for years. I've provided tons and tons of evidence from his website, social media pages, WhatsApp profile, etc. Its an ongoing battle but I refuse to give up. He was taken to court by CMS for arrears and told he had to pay them. Because he now claims UC, they won't chase them. Been told they will investigate but could take months. Every month I chase/check up so there is a trial. I refuse to accept that he should be allowed to get away with it.

@JMKid that’s awful it’s been going on so long for you. It’s so depressing that these people get away with it.
Makes me so angry.
I’d love to hear of a positive story in this situation as all I’ve heard is negative. It’s so unfair

@OneMoreNameChangeWontHurt. I've never heard of one positive story relating to CMS. And the irony is these 'men' are the ones who claim to be the best parents and we are at fault!!! I'm just fortune that I work and earn an OK wage, best be so much harder for those that are on low incomes. It's such an unfair system.

Yep. Same situ here. Claimed benefits for three years... Despite me having court documents stating he has a job apparently that means nothing...

He also recently stopped paying benefits but apparently the poor love only earns £60 a week (absolute bollocks, he's a self employed plumber so all cash in hand), so the CMS pay and collect actually went down from £7 from when he was 'on benefits' to £6.27 a week!!!!!!!!

*receiving benefits, not paying!

I think report to HMRC and DWP as well as CMS. Keep the case open, so there is always that in the background, and report him when you can. One of them will stick, if he is doing something wrong.

Unfortunately if the none resident parent wants to get away with not paying they basically can. Made easier if their self employed.
My advise is to learn to live with out child maintenance. Yes I know it's wrong but you may not be able to do anything about it.