[Solved] Child maintenance payment

Others probably know better than me. But, my thoughts are stop doing the overtime, see that your salary becomes more than 25% under what they assessed you on last year and then ask for a reassessment. They will probably ask for 2 or 3 pay slips to show your lower earnings and then they will reassess based on the new lower level.

And you can also pay more into or start a pension, which is taken of the assessed amount also.

You will earn less by doing less overtime of course, but also you will not be doing overtime just to give it to your ex.

I say this in the knowledge that at the level you are paying, I guess it is more than covering all of your childrens needs, I do not necessarily subscribe to paying as little as possible where it does not cover genuine needs and obligations....

I'm assuming that the issue is the arrears here, rather than the normal monthly amount, in which case speak to the CMS to try to come to an arrangement to pay the arrears off over a longer period, so reducing the monthly amount.

Thanks for your help, I’m in two minds to pack my job in, I’ve contaced my ex to try and sort something out, but she’s playing the silent game.

Yes they say I owe £8,000 in arrears . I’ve been paying £500 for the last couple of years for two kids, but due to me working hard and doing loads of overtime that was ultimately for them it’s back fired. Thanks for your advise

Thanks for your help, I’m in two minds to pack my job in, I’ve contaced my ex to try and sort something out, but she’s playing the silent game.

hi, be careful of quitting your job. if you go on benefits, cms will make you pay £7 a week. but if you ever start working again, they will come after you again with more arrears/back-dated rubbish.

I agree with Bill - that debt never goes away until repaid, so they'll take it out of benefits (and getting benefits is getting harder) and ultimately your pension, Once it's paid off, it's out of the way and your money is your own again.