Child Tax Credits and Child Benefit

daftdad

I hope that there is someone out there who can help me!

My wife has just left me leaving me with a primary school child.

She receives Child Benefit for the child together with child tax credit/working tax credit that we jointly applied for.

I have spoken to the child benefit people who have told me to submit a new claim. What do I do about the Child Tax Credit?

I have to say that I am a low earner and whilst the wife was with me we jointly managed to pay all the bills comfortably but simply when I have paid for the mortgage, council tax and water rates there is hardly any money left to pay for anything else now.

I had suggested that the ex simply pays me the benefit she receives and a little bit of maintenance but things have got very accrimonious on this suggestion - she actually now hates me and keeps sending me nasty texts! She is presently paying for some direct debits (Electricty, Gas etc) and as indicated that she may stop them.

Does anybody know what will happen with Child Tax Credits, how long it will take.

I have started the Legal side of things rolling by instructing a solicitor.

If anybody has any constructive comments I would be most grateful to receive them.

DX2

Apply for the child benefit and the child/working tax credits. Now this is not going to happen over night, they will have to establish who is the main day to day carer of the child. Start the ball rolling, good luck you are going to need it.

Tulip09

I hope you get it sorted out quickly. I found myself in a similar situation recently and the child tax credit was the quickest to get sorted out. I waited about 3/4 weeks and they can also do emergency payments now if you are struggling (I got £50 payable over the next few months). Child benefit still hasnt been sorted out (about 8 weeks). But i have been assured that it will be backdated. Tax credits can backdate your claim also so give the date she moved out. (She will have to pay back what she wasnt entitled to) Contact the council benefit office in your area also as i have been given a reduction on this as only 1 adult in the house. Your direct debits might benefit from an overhaul also as less people in the house etc. I got a reduction on my water rates also by explaining the situation to them. (im unmetered) and a lower tariff for my electric. Good luck

Andy_Davies

daftdad wrote: »

I hope that there is someone out there who can help me!

My wife has just left me leaving me with a primary school child.

She receives Child Benefit for the child together with child tax credit/working tax credit that we jointly applied for.

I have spoken to the child benefit people who have told me to submit a new claim. What do I do about the Child Tax Credit?

I have to say that I am a low earner and whilst the wife was with me we jointly managed to pay all the bills comfortably but simply when I have paid for the mortgage, council tax and water rates there is hardly any money left to pay for anything else now.

I had suggested that the ex simply pays me the benefit she receives and a little bit of maintenance but things have got very accrimonious on this suggestion - she actually now hates me and keeps sending me nasty texts! She is presently paying for some direct debits (Electricty, Gas etc) and as indicated that she may stop them.

Does anybody know what will happen with Child Tax Credits, how long it will take.

I have started the Legal side of things rolling by instructing a solicitor.

If anybody has any constructive comments I would be most grateful to receive them.

You are entitled to maintenance for the child - I think the current CSA rate is 15% of net earnings for one child.

Good luck...