Aibu to think this is fishy?

[Queenofthestress]

Okay so long story short, DS's father didn't want him, I did. He didn't want him to the point where he tried to make me miscarry him at 5 months pregnant during a talk we were having about my expectations of even if he doesn't want anything to do with DS I still expect him to fulfill his financial obligations once he was working.

His father then went on to uni in a city apparently he is now on year 4 of this uni course and has never worked once, yet I know for a fact that his parents are still on 0 hour minimum wage contracts so can't offer him financial support (I occasionally speak to his mum once in a while)

I've never gone for child maintenance through the service as I didn't really think about what his mum was saying and just took it at face value. It's just been pointed out to me by a friend that me and her don't know anyone at uni that isn't working to supplement student finance.

Is my friend being unreasonable to think this is fishy?

There are plenty of full time students who don’t work especially if they are on a more demanding four year degree.

That's what I was thinking, which is why I've not gone through CMS, it's my friend who thinks I'm being daft thinking that.

He was intending to pursue a business degree which as far as I'm aware are pretty intensive. Nice to see that I'm not being naive haha

the only students I met who didn't work were rich already. I think his mum is chatting shit sorry x

My sisters ex was at uni and didn't work. He also didn't have to pay CSA as he was a student and students don't have to pay CSA apparently.

Yeah students don't have to pay any child support I'm afraid

In all honesty I'm not too fussed, I planned on having DS with or without his support, he's never seen him, doesn't know naff all about him and I'm pretty sure he doesn't care so it's not really a big deal for me
She just thinks I'm nuts for not caring about whether he pays or not right now haha

Students don't pay child maintenance. My OH was doing a very demanding course at uni when his child was born and didn't pay child maintainence until he was working

I thought students were eligible for the Nil Rate (i.e. they don't have to pay)

"the paying parent is eligible for the ‘nil rate’, eg because they’re a student or a prisoner"

www.gov.uk/when-child-maintenance-payments-stop

My DS is on a 40 hour a week course and was told if he could afford to not work, then he shouldn't. He has managed to survive on his student loans. So it’s quite possible to study at uni and not work.

Don't know about the ins & outs of students and CM, but an important thing to consider is that it can't be backdated - it starts from the day you agree payment. My ex left in November. I contacted CMS in late May, because I hadn't had a penny from him. I got my first payment at the end of August - it didn't cover the previous months. He was earning 27k a year, I was on less than 10k.

He might not be eligible for CM payments yet, but I think it'd be worth your while to at least investigate what he should be paying, on an average salary.