Working term time only, low income, how will I manage?

[Uncomfortableinmyownhome]

If my husband pushes for 50/50 custody which I think he will, I believe this will mean I can't claim UC etc
I work 30 hours a week term time. If I change jobs that will make spending time with my kids very difficult as I won't be able to collect from school or cover the holidays. He can as works from home.
My wage won't even cover my basic bills let alone anything else. I feel so trapped and don't know what to do. I'm wishing my kids lives away so that they will grow up and I can leave without the worry of their childcare etc. What do I do?

You’ll need to

move to full time role
or/and use top up benefits if you can
ensure you get fair share of any assets

So you own a house? Are renting? Are there assets? What’s your income/his income ?

We will split the house proceeds and buy a smaller place each, I will be mortgage free so that's a plus point.
As far as I was aware, you don't get UC top up if you share custody 50/50? I hope I'm wrong on that

His income 60k, my income 16k

One parent with the main parental responsibility can claim UC child elements and child benefit. His income means he cannot claim so you should

My fear is he would push for parental responsibility as he is able to do the school runs etc and I can't due to me working out of the home

Get a part time top up job in the evenings your dc are with their dad.

Without outing yourself what role are you going? Is there anyway to do some WFH on the days you have DC? I think you no longer are able to work PT in your circumstances? Look at FT with flexible working?

also are they into sports? After school activities? If you work full time sign them up for those? They normally finish 6/630pm. Breakfast clubs are good, also some sports clubs start before school. Once DC’s are in secondary they won’t need before/after school.

If 50/50 then you only need to cover half school holidays, so really you don’t need term time, your annual leave and some holiday clubs would cover your time with DC.

You both have parental responsibility if you're married.

The one who claims child benefit (you?) is usually the one who gets universal credit I think. You're married so he will have to take responsibility for you to keep you off the streets.

Who usually spends evenings with children and puts them to bed? That will count for something.

If you go to the child maintenance calculator it's likely he'd have to pay you some child maintenance even if it's 50/50 I think about £300 a month (ie half of what he'd pay if you had them full time).

Do you want 50/50 or more? Surely you working only school hours would help you argue for more? Or could it work against you as you're 'free' to have them in the holiday? You need to speak to a lawyer - most do half hour free consultation

What do you mean by this? You both retain parental responsibility (apart from in really exceptional circumstances).

You're married so he will have to take responsibility for you to keep you off the streets.

?

@mewkins sorry I meant primary carer because he can cover school runs.

My kids are preteens now so that makes it easier in some respects but due to the distance we live from their schools they both need lifts there and back. He does this every day. Things will get easier as time goes on.

In a perfect world I want 100% custody. He isn't a good father and the kids would not want to be with him if they could choose. But he is a nasty man with an evil streak when crossed and he would do everything he possibly could to turn the kids against me and try to get custody purely just to hurt me. So I need to be 100% certain of my situation before I take the leap

You should be looking to work full time if you can’t afford part time

that’s the reality for everyone. You are in a good position if you will be mortgage free

You need to look for a full time job. You don't have the luxury of only working part time and term time only anymore. Yes you will have less time with the children but that is the reality for everyone else

Yes, you need to go full time - can you find a job that pays more or is more flexible? Your current part time low paid job is a luxury you won’t be able to afford. The kids will be in secondary school in a few years with will make things a lot more flexible but you need to get moving now in order to create the reality you want.

You can receive UC even if you have 50/50. Do you currently claim CB for the children. You won't be entitled to any maintenance.

I don't think the term matters much any more (I may be wrong!) as you will both have PR.

Op, are you married? Have you spoken to a family solicitor yet? I'd recommend asking for a free 30min consultation to try to get clarity on some things. Do you know anyone who could recommend one?

You will have to up your hours and ‘spend time’ with them at weekends like most of us do.
Or become a teacher.

Of course I will change jobs or do anything that I need to do to help fund my life. My issue as I've said upthread is my husband may try to keep the kids from me which I am very scared of and he is not a good parent. Me having the school holidays off means I can be there for them

You can claim UC even if you're not the primary carer, my ex does even though we share custody 60:40 in my favour. You'll probably need to up your hours though

I work 30 hours a week term time
My wage won't even cover my basic bills let alone anything else.

I think you are going to have to get a second job or a different job with more hours if you can’t even pay the bills. Term time jobs can be a great option but as a sole wage, it doesn’t sound like you can support a household. Are you a teaching assistant?

UC will pay up to 85% of your childcare costs so it should be affordable to work all year round

Go for more than 50 percent of the house. You can argue that you have sacrificed higher earnings to be there for the children. Plus, he can afford more than you. I would go for as much as possible. Does he really want 50/50? How old are the children? After he's picked them up from school, will he have to carry on working?

If they don't want to spend time him their wants will be taken into account if they are old enough. How old are they?