Hi There,
I’ve recently become a single parent, I reduced my working hours to care for my ex & I’s child. We split, I own my own house, earn slightly over the benefit threshold & childcare costs on average are £300-£350 a month. I’ve done the Gov maintenance calculator & based on my ex earning around 25k a year & having our child 2-3 nights per week he only has to pay me £165 per month. He says I am responsible for paying all childcare fees from his maintenance payments which only pays for half of it. Is this correct? His 180k house is paid off, he has over 100k in his bank accounts, very low expenses but won’t help pay just childcare fees alone, I’d be happy if he were to pay just the childcare fees & no maintenance but he refuses. I am trying to keep up my mortgage payments, bills & childcare costs on my own on reduced hours, I still work 3 x 12hr shifts but it’s 20% less than I used to work & as a result have had no choice but to get a lodger in to cope. Any advice would be appreciated.