Child benefit advice please

dippynina

My sister split with her partner a year ago , and about 2 weeks ago her 16 year old daughter has decided she wants to stay with her dad. We do not know how permanent this will be.
My sister and her ex and are on non-speaking terms and things have been very strained to say the least. Her ex has now contacted her to say she needs to inform the DSS that she should no longer receive child benefit, and he should be receiving it, which, of course is right. How straightforward is this to do? Should her ex also contact them? How long do these things take? Our other concern is that it takes weeks and in the meantime her daughter decides to move back (They initially fell out due to an extortionate mobile phone bill her daughter ran up!).
My sister and her ex also have an 8 year old son who stays alternative weeks at his dads, what would happen here with regard to child benefit and also tax credit she receives? Any help much appreciated!!
Thanks.

munchings-n-crunchings

Hello,

Your sister needs to write to the child benefit office and state that she wished to sign over the child benefit for her daughter to ex husband.
She will need to give her child benefit reference number, and her daughter's details. Also will need to be included, is the father's details. She will need to say from what date the change occurred.

If her ex husband also writes, it would speed things along a little, as this can take up to 12 weeks.

She would also need to inform child tax credits of the change, to avoid any over payments.

Hopefully, by co-operating with resolving this issue, if her daughter changes her mind about where she wishes to reside, her ex husband will reciprocate the helpfulness, as it will be in the best interests. :rolleyes:

Regards
Munchie

Magdalene

Hi!
I had to support a friend recently with a similiar situation. she was told that the other person, in this case, the dad, has to contact them directly, because once they receive the letter from the mum stating she is passing on the benefits, they will no longer deal with her. 2 months later the money still hadnt been paid, when enquiries were made, they were told that they have a window of 26 weeks within which they have to pay, but cheerfullly highlighted that they would get all the money backdated from the date of the claim!
They advised that they sought charity money from social care or connexions. Certainly not ideal for anyones dignity and pride.
As for the other sibling, i believe depending who the child stays with the most, in this case mum, they are the one to receive benefits, only when this is challenged by the partner can there be problems, i.e. a re-assessment and possible delays in payment continuing. The partner can use the court to argue a reduction in child maintences based on the days the child stays with it's dad.