What am I missing here - CMS related

[LostName]

Not sure where to post this, it's not really a 'aibu'.

Ex doesn't want me to use the CMS any more. I can't fathom why. He tells me they send him huge amounts of paperwork to complete. But it's all set up and has been for a while.

For completeness, ex is self employed, he told me yesterday he doesn't work the winter so he doesn't have to pay me any more. He pays for his other older children (not mine) above and beyond what I get in terms of maintenance money but will also help with holidays, clothes, school stuff etc. He won't help me with anything at all above the CMS rate because I've used them.

He's previously told me he was delighted when he finally got what he owed me down to what it is now. I'm really not bothered, I won't rise to this.

I'm just a bit lost, is the CMS really that hounding when it has all been set up. They have the court order. They can see his tax returns etc. I don't know what I'm missing here.

No, it's no effort at all. You're supposed to inform them of changes to income, but if you don't, they check your HMRC tax return each year anyway.

On the one hand, if he's self employed, he can fiddle his accounts and tax to make it look like he earns less than he does, so it might be sensible to have an amicable arrangement with him.

On the other hand, I'd suspect the reason he wants to circumvent CMS is so he can avoid having to cook his books in this way, while also having no scrutiny by you over his earnings as he can just tell you anything he likes about his income and therefore his child maintenance obligation, and you'd have no way to know the truth.

Everything is going digital soon so expect he is preparing for less cash handling in his business.

More and more people do not care about paying cash for jobs.

Stick with CMS.

I think that's what I'm thinking. He's wanting to earn more and to declare it without it increasing what he pays to me.

He hides money. He gets paid in cash. He's about to go on holiday for three weeks so I don't think he's quite on the breadline just yet.

I'd stick with CMS. My sisters ExH was trying to do the same but turned out he had a big pay rise and didn't want to pay anymore.

Oh I'm sure he would love you to stop pursuing maintenance. Do not close your case. He can (although prob unaware) ask for a mandatory reconsideration if his income drops by more than 25% at any point. Don't tell him this though, let him work it out himself. Because I can guarantee, he will not inform them when it increases which is he is meant to do.
If he fills in a tax return then that is all the info the CMS need.

There will be only one agenda for him to change any current set up and it will ONLY be to advantage himself. He wouldn’t bother for any of reason other than personal gain

I think he knows about the 25% thing. He said this much to me but I didn't really know what he was going on about so now I do, thank you @Doseofdopamine

@LostName

If he does go ahead with the mandatory reconsideration, you can also apply for a mandatory reconsideration at any time if you think his income has increased again or if you disagree with their decision. He could also have his denied without proof of drop in income.