ExH and childcare

[stegosauruslady]

My ex left unexpectedly a couple of years ago, leaving me in a financial hole having not worked for eight years at the time. I received income support etc for a while as I got myself sorted and then started applying for jobs. In that time he re-married, bought a big house (new wife is rich!) etc etc

Finally, I start work on Monday in a job that is flexible and part time...because of the children. He came to me on Wednesday saying that he could not afford to pay for any childcare, when our previous arrangement (when I was doing a part time college course) was that we would pay for childcare 50/50. I cannot afford to pay for all of the childcare!

Does anyone have any ideas or strategies as to what to do next? Even confirming that I'm not being unreasonable would be super as I'm feeling really fucking odd about this!

As crap as it is, if he pays the correct amount of CM he does not have to contribute childcare costs. Morally is a different story, of course. Have you applied for tax credits?

He has the DC three nights a week...by that I mean that he picks them up after work and then drops them back before 8am. He has them for a longer chunk of time at the weekend. Maintenance...not a great deal.

Well. Shit. Yes, I've applied for tax credits. Seriously? I am fucked!

He should be responsible for any childcare required on his days. You yours.

Have you looked at Child Tax Credits/Childcare element? As a LP you should be able to get a fair amount of your childcare paid for.

If his evenings are (say) Monday Tuesday and Thursday and he cant get them til after work then he needs to sort and pay for the care between school and him being available.