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Hi,
really need some advice!
In October last year, after being employed for 16 + years, i made the decision to set up my own business. Thus making me self employed. For the last 10 years I have made direct payments to my child’s mother, On time no issues. I was paying around £340 a month until October last year. I also have shared care via court order for 104 nights a year.
Since October, I have had no income and my business has been at a loss each month, aiming to be in profit by April 2022. I have given all of this info to the CMS, including invoices, statements, expenses, P45 etc. i have chased every week for them to update the system to show that I am on no income and I am met each time with “ someone will get back to you next week”.
It’s gone on for so long and my ex does not believe that I am self
Employed as the CMS account states otherwise. So as she’s not received the last 3 payments ( that were still calculated on my old wage when I was employed) she has set up collect and pay. I am now being expected to pay £252 per week from next week for 3 months, this includes £50 of collect and pay fees and around a third of the total amount for the arrears, plus the regular amount of £340 a month.
This means I will be paying in excess of £1000 a month to CMS… when I’m not even bringing in £100 a month from self employment - which they have all clear proof of.
My account still says “ under review” and when speaking to someone again today I was told, it’s under review. Once the account has been updated, it will show I owe £0 for arrears. It’s been 3 months and now CMS are setting up
A standing order for these arrears and ongoing payments that I do not owe! If someone just updated the account, this would be a pretty quick fix.
does anyone know what more I can do or how long they take to update these things!?
cheers!
Hi,
I would suggest to put a complaint in. you can email to these addresses together:
correspondence@dwp.gov.uk
arlene.sugden@dwp.gov.uk
may also be a good idea to copy in your local MP into that email.
also recommend you join this group on FB: CMS support for Non-resident Parents. lot of experienced members on there https://www.facebook.com/groups/239699060076601
if your really struggling, have you thought about applying for Universal credit?
@bill337 thank you! Yes we are on universal credit at the moment which is covering the bills, rent etc. the earnings I make self employed are just about covering my van costs, insurance, business insurance etc and then I’m in a deficit each month. Each month the deficit is getting less and so by April I expect to be on a better income. Just don’t understand why the CMS are taking so long in sorting this! I put the request in in September and they are still reviewing it yet my ex put the collect and pay request in 2 weeks ago and it’s already set up ready to go!
@bill337 did you get access to that fb group? My application keeps getting rejected.
@londondad22 Hi. yes I am also a member of that FB group. if you like you can private message me with your Facebook profile name, and I will ask their admin to give you access.
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