Child maintenance payments - how to enforce them with an ex partner - HELP PLEASE?

[JoJo44]

Hi,

I'm very interested to know if anyone has had similar experiences to mine.

I separated from my partner approximately 7 years ago, and throughout that time (including through the filing of contact orders etc etc), my ex partner hasnt paid any (significant) child maintenance payments (only payments of £5 per week previously deducted from his JSA claim - which was paid directly to me and lasted for about 5 months - once he had the contact order - the CSA ceased all deductions and i get nothing).

In a nutshell, my ex partner decided to claim benefits to essentially circumvent the payment of child support. My ex partner doesnt have any physical/mental obstacles to working and in fact graduated from university with a business degree several years ago. He has worked in the distant past, but essentially will do anything possible to avoid helping financially. He basically sees it as paying "me" as opposed to supporting his only child. Please note this isnt a case of 'its really tough out there.. maybe he just cant find anything', he literally has and continues to nothing aside from 'sign on' every 2 weeks and will not offer ANY financial support no matter how small. And the CSA are depressingly useless/helpless beyond this.

I have confronted the job centre plus about his known 'benefit jumping' (making a claim for several months - signing off and then on again), but due to data protection there is very little they can tell me. I contacted my local MP Harriet Harman who sympathised but again hasnt actually done anything.

So, im really at my wits end. I'm not sure who is the best person to try and push this forward with?!

I'm assuming that due to my previous complaints in the past, my ex partners claim was suspended for i believe approx 6 months last year, only to my horror to discover that he was placed back ON JSA earlier this year (job seekers allowance) shortly after that time.

If anyone has any useful contacts - a specific place/person whom I can raise this complaint with I would be very grateful. This has essentially gone on for over 6 years. Our only child is due to start secondary school this year and trying to financial support every aspect of their growing needs has been a struggle (I work full time - he has contact every other weekend).

So again, any tangible, realistic and effective ideas really would be welcome. It isnt fair on us, nor frankly people who genuinely need benefits as a means of support.

[CarlaE]

Does your ex-partner have any assets, such as a house, car, savings etc?

[JoJo44]

Not that I know of, I sincerely doubt it. He has/had a car but i strongly believe its registered in someone elses name. If the car is registered with him, how would that impact things please? As for savings, i think thats a possibility, but because i havent been able to 'prove' it to the satisfaction of the CSA, they werent willing to pursue it. Essentially i strongly believe he has additional income based on the activities he participates in our child (his only child), including a trip to a European country last year and various gadgets. I dont believe the work he is doing is potentially being done 'legitimately' which makes it hard to pin anything down.