Child Maintenance Underpayment

[lunalestrange90]

Hi I'm new here, really need some advice on what I should be getting child maintenance wise.
I have one child and his father, never married and neither of us have any other children or partners. No mortgages. Been split 4 years.
I am a full time mature student, I have our son full time apart from 1 night a week his dad has him and also has him for tea once a week.
His dad pays me £65 a week child maintenance (£260 a month) but earns at least £150-180 a day 5 days a week as an experienced carpenter.
I'm struggling massively financially apart from when I get my student loan payouts during the academic year. Him and I both live in separate housing association accommodation (he's in a house I'm in a flat)
Should I be getting more from him??! I'm pretty certain I should. He's always flashing his cash, he pays for school uniform as extra once a year. That's it.
Sorry for the long post and thanks for any help!?
He says if I got to CMS I will get less as he's "self employed" "vat" etc...

I've just checked on cms calculator for you.

www.gov.uk/calculate-your-child-maintenance

Strictly speaking yes he should be paying at least £12 a week more BUT he's also right - it's far too easy for self employed non resident parents to massage the figures (or just work less!) which could well mean you receiving much less.

Are you receiving/claiming all the benefits and student support you are entitled to?

I was a Lp student (15 years ago though) and was able to claim child tax credits, childcare tax credits, small amount housing benefit, income support during the 2 intervening summer holidays and full housing benefit during that period, child benefit

From the uni - lone parent bursary, book bursary, hardship grant.

Check on

www.entitledto.co.uk

Which is fairly accurate but no guarantee.

Make an appointment to speak to the student support officer who deals with students that are parents.

Are you paying council tax when you shouldn't be?

You could also post your outgoings here and mners could possibly help you find savings too.

Thank you so much for your help. I was expecting more than to be entitled to £12 more though... is that weekly? And what percentage of his earnings is it based on?
My outgoings before fuel and food or anything else (so basic bills) is around £740? :-/

Do the calculator from the link - based on hi earning 750 a week gross and having her 1 night, it comes out at £77 a week.

Your outgoings don't come into it I'm afraid, and yes if he's self employed it would be very easy for him to arrange his relevant income to be negligible.

To be able to help we'd need more detail on outgoings.

Are you getting everything you're entitled to?