I am in the process of trying to escape an emotionally abusive long term relationship. I have two small children and work part time. I'm currently privately renting together with my soon to be ex / father of my children. We are not married and I'm feeling trapped financially. He is asking to have the children 50/50, and earns 4 times what I earn. I really want to understand the financial complications of escaping the relationship........hope you can help.
1 - Does the 50/50 childcare agreement mean that he avoids paying child maintenance? Or do they take into account their financial earnings?
2 - I currently have savings just over the UC £16K threshold - which were supposed to go towards our first house, but he gambled his half away. As I am not earning enough to take out a private tenancy agreement, I was going to see if I have the option of paying 12 months rent upfront instead. This I am hoping will get me around the issue of finding a guarantor too. This would put me under the £16k UC threshold and I was wondering if I would be able to claim UC in the short term?
In due course, I am looking at moving over to full time work, but at the moment have the children every day after school so am not able to. But if he has the children 50/50, I will be able to work extra hours.
Welcome any thoughts and feedback on the above. It's been a tough few months and I've been going round in circles with the above.
Thank you!