Separation and childcare/maintenance issues

[AA17]

Hi everyone,

Need advise and don't know where to turn.

Me and my ex husband separated last year, for the simple reason I wasn't happy. He hasn't taking this well. We have two young children which I have the majority of the time.

Currently I have the children 4 days and the ex 3. On a couple of the days he has them from 4pm after work and then drops them off with me at 7am. I then after either pay for childcare which I already pay for every other day or I look after them.

I am not on the best salary he will be on twice as much but he refuses to pay for the childcare on the days he supposed to have his children.

Resulting in the fact that as he is having them for 3 nights then he only needs to pay minimum amount of child maintenance. I am struggling to pay the huge childcare bill and would like to know where I stand. Does the ex need to pay for the childcare on his days/nights with the children???

Any help or advise would be appreciated.

Yes he does

Thank you for your prompt response. I was told that he should be paying but wasn't too sure

If you receive the child tax credits and benefit can't you claim for help towards childcare costs?

I get Universal credit and it's not the same as tax credits. When you start earning over £192 per month they start taking 60p in every £1 from your award. So basically as I am working full time and earning more than £192 then they take it all back off again

Also any advise on how I speak to him about this without going through a solicitor, as I know he will just refuse 😩

Could you simply just say you are not paying for those days? So he has to either take the day off or make alternative childcare arrangements? Like you have to make arrangements when you are at work it's also his responsibility. You may just need to be tough and tell him you are not paying for anything other than your designated days anymore. He can make his own arrangements with the same childcare provider. Does he get the tax free childcare vouchers through his employer?

Yes I think he does actually. And your right I do need to be more tougher. I've just been wanting an easy happy life forme and the kids but i feel he is using this and taking advantage.

Yes he should. My arrangement is that my ex pays for all activities/clubs/afterschool care on his days and I pay for them on mine.

Could you speak to the childcare provider and advise them that your Ex is now responsible for the childcare on certain days and ask them to invoice him separately/directly for that? He will really have no choice then. And you can advise him to speak to his employers childcare voucher provider to get that sorted. Just make it clear that now you are separated the responsibility for arranging childcare arrangements are only yours on the days when the children are in your care - he sorts the rest no further discussion.

Thank you for that, I feel a bit more confident in this now. I'll approach h and the childcare provider. Wish me luck 😳 X

Good luck! X