A child living with me who is not mine

janey254

In April 2010 my daughters school friend came to live with me after her mother "moved away"
I am a single working mother and I claim the working tax credit and child benefit for my own daughter. The arrangement was for this extra child to stay with me for a few weeks but almost a year later she is still here with me. I need to know if I am entitled to extra tax credits and the child benefit for this child who I am supporting ?
I rarely hear from the absent parent although I know she sends her daughter money from time to time towards clothes etc.
I feed and house this extra child and take & collect from school and treat her as if she was my own. I need advise on if i am entitled to any financial help.

DUTR

I doubt it whilst you are not the official guardian

laurel7172

The absent parent is probably claiming the child benefit and tax credits fraudulently while you pay for the child's upkeep...

amersall

Does the "mother" want her back at all?. Is she getting child benefit or child tax credits for her?.
You need to get hold of this woman and ask her to either take the child or do something so you can claim for this child.
I hope you get this sorted out, i am glad someone is looking out for this child.
Good luck with this.

amersall

laurel7172 wrote: »

The absent parent is probably claiming the child benefit and tax credits fraudulently while you pay for the child's upkeep...

Thank you. Ditto !!

janey254

The child in question is delightful. I am not a young single mum, in fact my three older children have left home and lead happy productive lives and I am very happy to have another child in the home to keep my youngest daughter company and I adore her, however, the agreement was for six weeks, not a year !
I work hard to support myself and my daughter and only claim the tax credit and child benefit. I have no other support except maintenance for my own daughter from her dad. I am pretty sure the absent parent is claiming benefits for the daughter who lives with me. What to do ??
I am not quite on the breadline, I just think I should be entitled to something. I am sure some of you know the amount of washing & Ironing that teenage girls create !!

Wee_Willy_Harris

I think, on the basis of your stated circumstances, you ARE entitled to the child focused benefits you refer to. However, it seems that these are already in pay elsewhere (ie with the childs mum). Perhaps she should be your first line of enquiry? At the end of the day, there is only one child and, as a result, only one lot of benefits payable.

janey254

I would hate to get the mother into trouble, however there is a principle here ...

Wee_Willy_Harris

janey254 wrote: »

I would hate to get the mother into trouble, however there is a principle here ...

No need to get her into trouble. Just ask her direct for some board money for her daughter or suggest a convenient time for her to collect her child.

Hammyman

You are entitled to the benefits even though you aren't the legal guardian however you have to get the mother to rescind them. My parents looked after a family friends daughter for a couple of years when she couldn't cope.

lynzpower

You are what is called "Private fostering arrangement". You have a duty to let your social services department know obviously what the arrangement is. they can also firm up your need to recieve regular maintainence for the child as well. ( plus check you are not an axe murderer/ rose west type )