What can I do about this, if anything? Feel so vulnerable he can get away with this

[Urgipp]

Ex has decided with a 3 month old that he is going to start a course in January, for 24 months. He will be putting his well paid job on hold for this time. He has 60k savings and owns a property (mortgaged). He’s contributed nothing until dc born until I applied for cms and was getting a few hundred. I don’t know how I will pay for childcare etc without his help. Am I just stuck with this?

Are you claiming universal credit? They pay 85% of childcare costs.

But no, unfortunately, you can't stop dickhead men from deciding to stop earning so they can swerve maintenance responsibilities. It's truly shit.

@sittingonacornflake no I’m not. He’s in his 30s there’s no need to be doing this course which is costing him 18k to do.

I honestly can’t believe he will pay nothing from January. How is that right. He has savings too and I will probably have to give up work as I won’t be able to pay for childcare too.

Is there any reason you aren't claiming universal credit? You'd be surprised how much you can earn and still be eligible. Im a single parent, I'm a lawyer but I only work 4 days and I rent which means I'm eligible for a very small universal credit award. Because I'm eligible for this small award it means I can recover 85% of childcare costs.

How much do you earn?
Before giving up work completely you can ask your employer for various flexible working arrangements and reduce your childcare bill ie 4 days instead of 5,. Put an application in for universal credit and see if you are eligible for the childcare element.

Men can do what they like though, with any luck he'll get an even better paid job at the end of the course and you will go through the CSM and get his contributions. Or hell realise that he doesnt like living off his savings and get a job elsewhere. Either way put a CSM application in as they reassess annually what he needs to pay you.

@sittingonacornflake I wasn’t aware of this at all. I earn over 60k so didn’t think that was possible? It’s the childcare costs that will now force me out of work. Would I be eligible at all on that basis?

@HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime he is on a very high salary, he has done this intentionally as he’s a truly awful person. I don’t say that lightly. He’s been such hard work and I keep my mouth shut these days but this feels very cruel at a time I obviously need support.

Is it really not possible to pay for childcare on a £60k salary?!

I live abroad and, I know UK childcare is expensive, but this is just crazy to me!

@Urgipp it's possible! Especially if you rent. But rather than giving up work you could increase your pension contributions to bring your net pay down because your eligibility for UC is based off net pay. You only need it be 'low enough' to be eligible because once you're eligible your childcare costs are covered.