CMS recuse to pursue non paying (usually men) parents due to CV19 [Edited by MNHQ at OP's request]

[AlovelybitofsquirrelJackie]

I'm actually incensed about this is government policy. For context my ex is furloughed on 80% of his usual wage and has decided in his wisdom to only pay 10% of the maintenance. He now owes his children £100's. I have escalated and activated the CMS complaints process and written to my entirely useless Tory MP 3 times to an avail. Would anyone affected by inappropriate withholding of maintenance be interested in a collective approach to the relevant minister/department to show that this policy is affecting parents and children but specifically mothers? There are so many schemes to protect many areas of the economy and incomes which is right and proper but to openly declare that the CMS will not be seeking to do their duty for many women and children in this country should not be tolerated without some kind of fight?

Oh I wish I had checked the title first 😂

I think there are only two letters wrong so if you report it Mumsnet might correct it for you? Am i gathering that your Ex has lost 20% of their gross income, are saving commuting costs, so they are maybe, I dunno, 15% down, all of which they have decided can be cut from the maintenance that goes to their children?

He's only allowed to apply for reduced payments if his income drops by 25% just like if it increases by less than 25% his payments to the children don't increase. So he is expected to pay the same. My issue is the CMS taking a policy stance to not pursue any non paying parents for the foreseeable future. This disproportionately affects women and will drive many of them into hardship and poverty while trying to provide for their children in likely their own challenging financial circumstances. I feel this is a feminist issue and needs a drive to the relevant government minister rather than a passive response that men aren't expected to pay for their children and women take the strain

Could you try the Baronness or Caroline Noakes?

(If this is a systemic problem with the CSA)

@RumbaswithPumbaas it's a CMS policy decision which initially they put on their website and have since removed but in correspondence they state this is their position. I think this is grossly unfair and disproportionately affects women. Who's the Baroness?

Nicholson, she’s a peer, active on Twitter and RL, fighting issues mainly relating to protecting single sex spaces for women, but she’s the sort of politician fighting for women who might highlight this.

I'd think about talking to your local representative who may be able to find out what the real thinking behind this is, and do something on your behalf or be able to let you know as soon as it's possible to look into it.

Some decisions being made at the moment seem to be related to reduced capacity in administrative positions in government as much as any other concern or real policy decision, IYSWIM. With probably quite a few people having income changes at the moment, and the situation being fluid, it may be difficult for them to assess the changes. They may be hoping that things will get back to normal soon so they can start to look at how things have fallen out.

There really are a lot of these kinds of unanticipated effects of so many people not working and not knowing what will happen and when, and trying to keep people from leaving their homes or having people off work from government offices as well.

@Goosefoot oh I do understand the current pressures and reduced staffing but to just throw the towel in on pursuing non paying parents (not through their own loss of income but because they are exploiting the situation to be controlling or difficult) plunging mainly women into financial difficulties shouldn't be policy. It's as if these women have to just suck it up while they prioritise other issues (mainly men). I know from my conversations with the CMS the advice to the supposed to be paying parent is to pay the full amount if they are still receiving 80% of their usual wage while furloughed but they are also being told to 'pay what they can' too which I suspect is the green light to pay nothing or a significantly reduced amount without a good financial reason to do so.
I've already contacted my MP 3 times without answer which is why I want to try a different approach. Personally I'm managing ok without the money but I feel that a stand needs to be taken for women who this will devastate financially. I'm not on twitter but will try and find a way to contact the Baroness.