May I ask what happened to lead to this situation? Is there not anyway to re-negotiate how much you have to pay? Surely there is some sort of measure in place with covid to protect unemployed people from consequences when it comes to lacking funds. It would probably depend on your country.
Having a child is a lifelong responsibility, there is no easy solution when it comes to doling out the logistics of how people will provide for said child in the aftermath of a divorce or break up. The current system isn't perfect but the intentions are for the welfare of the child, even if the execution isn't great.
At the end of the day that is your child and you need to provide for them to make sure they are taken care (financially, at least) of since you don't have custody. It may seem like a sacrifice but think about it, you are ensuring, hopefully, that your child has access to food, clothing, and all the necessities if the other parent is responsible.
If the payment is breaking you financially I would speak to someone and try to get on some sort of benefits if the amount can't be amended.
Also something I didn't see mentioned really. It is hard to be an entrepreneur or something like that when you have children. Having a kid involves sacrifice and often times the decision to create a new human is not really thought out to that extent. You can still make and create things, maybe even have your own gig eventually, but when you create new humans, they are your priority.
What lead to the situation is me making 350k a year in previous years.
The courts really don't care that you make less now as in the back of their mind, they know you made that and are capable of it again.
They don't understand the risk / reward scenario of high risk commission sales. It is feast or famine.
I was ordered 7k a month support when I made 11k a month in 2015.
I was ordered 2k a month support when I made 3k a month in 2018. (These are hard facts / no BS)
Now I make 4k a month and pay 1500 for 2 kids while working crazy hours.
Benefits? Dude no offense but that shit doesn't fly here.
Do you know that there is not one model of child support in the USA that uses activities and needs of the child as a basis for determining support? Ie, No child support models looks at food / clothing / extra curricular needs. None.
The models look at income of the non custodial parent that is 80% of the time the dad.
Then the dad goes on CTB forums and everything goes to shit.
The key is to stop fighting it. If you just let go and realize that your relationship with kids, earnings potential, and life is fucked to the point you cannot live independently, you will be ok.