Single Dad needing advice

kev_777

Hi All

My wife and I have recently decided on an amicable seperation for the good of all of us concerned (we have two children), it is clear after 13 years that the marraige does not and can not work.

As my wife has a career and I have an ongoing neurological problem that permits me working full time I spend more time with the children than she does.

With this in mind we have agreed to shared parental responsibility and the children will stay with me for 50% of the time and vice versa.

Now that finaincially things are a strain it would make more sense that I apply for the WFTC as I would get more and will certainly be needing it with the new outgoings involved in living elsewhere.

After all this rambling the question I am trying to get a straight answer for is if I do this am I entitled to the WFTC even though the children will not be with me 7 nights per week.

I have trawled the net for hours looking for an answer but cant work it out, after all we have both been through with seperation and my illness the last thing i need is to worry if I am the right side of the law or not.

Any bonafide advice would be very welcome, thanks.

DX2

Kev, Do you work at all?

If not your wife will have to claim WTC. Can you not split the payments?

kev_777

DX2 wrote: »

Kev, Do you work at all?

If not your wife will have to claim WTC. Can you not split the payments?

Yeah I work 16 hours per week at the moment and that is enough for me with my disability.

DX2

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/start/claiming/claim-children/more-one-address.htm

Your child lives at more than one address - claiming tax credits
Only one household can claim tax credits for a child. So if you look after a child who sometimes lives with you and sometimes lives with someone else, you'll have to decide who'll claim.

What happens if you can't agree?


If you can't agree who'll claim, the Tax Credit Office will decide for you. They’ll contact both of you so that they can work out who has main responsibility for the child. The number of days the child lives with you is important but they'll also look at other things like:

• where the child keeps most of their clothes and toys
• who buys their clothes and food
• who gives them pocket money
• who takes them to appointments with the doctor or dentist
• which address is registered with the child's nursery, school, doctor and dentist
• who has legal custody of the child
• who is the main contact for their school, college, nursery, childcare

kev_777

DX2 wrote: »

Your child lives at more than one address - claiming tax credits
Only one household can claim tax credits for a child. So if you look after a child who sometimes lives with you and sometimes lives with someone else, you'll have to decide who'll claim.

What happens if you can't agree?





If you can't agree who'll claim, the Tax Credit Office will decide for you. They’ll contact both of you so that they can work out who has main responsibility for the child. The number of days the child lives with you is important but they'll also look at other things like:

• where the child keeps most of their clothes and toys
• who buys their clothes and food
• who gives them pocket money
• who takes them to appointments with the doctor or dentist
• which address is registered with the child's nursery, school, doctor and dentist
• who has legal custody of the child
• who is the main contact for their school, college, nursery, childcare

DX2

Thank you for that info:T

marshmallows

good luck kev777 my husband and i applied for tax credits back in July and we are currently going through the appeal process as they are about as useful as an ashtray on a motorbike

if you and your x could come to an arrangement, e.g she keeps child benefit and you claim tax credits etc if she does agree to this then she can transfer the tax credits to you because without that it may be a struggle