Eldest daughter moving in with my Mum

Babiesmummy_2

We are currently relocating 50miles away, due to move 23rd June.

We gave my eldest daughter (14yrs) the option to come with us and change school or move in with her Grandma and stay at her current school. She chose the later option to stay with her Grandma, I didn't fight this decision as I moved school at a similar age and hated it,everybody in the new school already had friends and my education suffered immensley as I felt I didn't fit in. She is also about to go into year 10 which is obviously very important for her GCSE's.

She will be spending most weekends with us and school holidays.

My question is where do I start with things like child benefit, tax credits etc. My Mum was made redundant 12mths ago and is still looking for work, we will be paying for things like clothes, school lunches and bus fares to ease the burden on my Mum. Can my mum claim the child benefit for her as she will be her main carer, will she be able to claim any other benefits or will we need to make it legal such as making her her legal guardian. As far as tax credits go I don't get anything so won't lose out and I have no problem losing my child benefit either.

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA

Indie_Kid

If your mum claims child benefit, she can claim child tax credits too.

mum24boys

My nephew has lived with my mum for the past 4 yrs. Same reasons as you my sister moved 120 miles away and he did not want to change schools. My mum claimed CB and CTC. My sister had to write to the relevent people and let them know, it was no problem. Nephew finishes his exam in a couple of weeks he is 16 and is going back to live with his mum this summer and its worked well for them.
Good luck with the move

Babiesmummy_2

I didn't think it would be as easy as writing to them, I thought she might have to have some legal document to say that she was her main carer. It just seems a bit to easy to make fraudulent claims.

mum24boys

Honestly that is all she had to do. I think its because the money is for the child regardless of who they are living with. I know my mum has no legal documents or parental responsibility over my nephew, my sister offered it but mum did not think there was any need. As long as every one is in agreement there should be no problem. Your resigning your claim and your mum is claiming it with your permission that your daughter will be living there. Give them a ring they will tell you more.

elfen

Child benefit, Child tax credits....she might be eligible for Council tax and housing help, but I'm not sure if she owns or rents her house

Babiesmummy_2

She owns her own house, mortgage is currently being paid through her redundancy insurance cover.

JC9297

As your daughter is really just staying with her grandma monday-friday so she can stay at school with her friends i would just give your mother the necessary money to cover any expenses she may have for your daughter and you continue to receive the CB.

I was surprised that you said "we will be paying for things like clothes, school lunches and bus fares to ease the burden on my Mum" . In the circumstances I would expect to give my Mum enough to cover everything including food, any additional fuel costs etc. and she wouldn't have to bear any of the cost of looking after my child.

Indie_Kid

JC9297 wrote: »

I was surprised that you said "we will be paying for things like clothes, school lunches and bus fares to ease the burden on my Mum" . In the circumstances I would expect to give my Mum enough to cover everything including food, any additional fuel costs etc. and she wouldn't have to bear any of the cost of looking after my child.

Isn't that what CTC & ChB covers?

inspirespirit

If your mum is going to be her main carer, then she would get the Child Benefit and when your mum finds work she will also get Family Tax Credit. (There may be more benefits that she is entitled to whilst not working, but I don't know about those). You will have to fill in a form though. You will probably both be sent forms. There is a portion in there, which makes life a lot easier, if you agree to her having these benefits, you just fill that part in.

Indie_Kid

inspirespirit wrote: »

If your mum is going to be her main carer, then she would get the Child Benefit and when your mum finds work she will also get Family Tax Credit. (There may be more benefits that she is entitled to whilst not working, but I don't know about those). You will have to fill in a form though. You will probably both be sent forms. There is a portion in there, which makes life a lot easier, if you agree to her having these benefits, you just fill that part in.

You get child tax credit regardless of whether you work.