Will I get anything under Universal Credit?

BigAunty

There is a child support forum on MSE that will detail how you can get support from your ex or how you can trace him. I believe the CSA expects a non resident parent to pay around 25% of their net salary for 3+ children. This does not affect your benefits.

Self employed people (if that is what your cleaning job is) raise invoices for their work with their clients and they submit annual tax returns. It is the invoices that provide proof about requests for payment and income. To understand whether or not they are your employer or you are self employed, see the HMRC website

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/working/intro/empstatus.htm

Lone parents only have to work 16 hours to qualify for working tax credits. You would be entitled to a considerable sum of working and child tax credits, housing benefit (if you are a tenant) and possibly a further increase in your council tax benefit. It might be 200-300 a week from the WTC/CTC alone. To identify your benefit entitlements, enter your information into the Turn2us online benefit checker.

Frankly, I can't see how you can raise 3 kids on £47 child benefit and £160 employment income. How do you pay your rent?