Can a friend use childcare vouchers for my kids?

tincat

Please move this if not appropriate.

My boyfriend of 2 years is childless. His employer sent out info about childcare vouchers, and he says he sees no reason why he couldn't claim them and use them to pay for extra lessons and class trips or something for my kids.

I get child tax credit and housing benefit. I'm a full time uni student at the moment.

Can he do this or does he have to be related to the children or married to me. If so, I'm probably out of luck as I don't think he's the marrying kind . We also don't live together.

Would I get into any trouble if he did this? I shouldn't think so as my parents have helped before with paying for some extra lessons for the kids, and that hasn't ever been questioned.

I'm only asking, as he sent me the info.

ce1

I dont really get how he could claim though if they arent his children? If he was paying for lessons ect out his own pocket then surely that would be nobody elses business but dont undertans how he could possibly get child vouchers though the tax system if he isn't their dad.

tincat

Do you know for sure though? It looks like a benefit that any working person is able to claim. Does it say anywhere that the children have to be yours? I looked through the forms he sent and can't see that.

dmg24

You cannot do it.

The child must be:
• your child
• your stepchild, or
• a child who lives with you and for whom you have
parental responsibility.
Parental responsibility means that you have the same legal rights,
duties, powers, responsibilities and authority as a parent for the
child and the child’s property.
If you are not the parent, your employer may ask you what your relationship is to the child.

tincat

dmg24 wrote: »

You cannot do it.

Thanks, just needed to know for sure.

karenx

And also does he realise the vouchers arent free? He has to still pay for them. So surly if he wanted your kids to benefit then can he not just pay for afterschool clubs etc

Ama

dmg24 wrote: »

You cannot do it.

Couldyou let us know where you got the quote from?

Zoetoes

Wouldn't they come under 'step children'?

RedwoodBrook

zoeleigh wrote: »

Wouldn't they come under 'step children'?

They do not live together and are not married so I don't really see how he could class them as his 'step-children'

MrsManda

Ama wrote: »

Couldyou let us know where you got the quote from?

It's from the HMRC leaflet 'Paying for Childcare, help from your employer' which can be downloaded from the direct.gov.uk website here;
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Childcare/DG_4016029

They're not stepchildren because he doesn't have the legal rights and responsibilities of a parent - for example no one is going to chase him for child maintanence if he splits up with the mother, he's not going to be able to sign a consent form for surgery should the child need an operation etc...
I think they need to married or the partner formally adopt the children.