Can Grandma claim the child Befefit instead of me?

JimmyTheWig

Hmm71 wrote: »

Fair enough Jimmythe Wig but I'm sure that's not why Tillycat is letting her son go, just so someone else can claim for him. He wants to do a course at the college near Grandma's and it sounds like living with his Grandma would be the best thing as it's closer for college and his friends.

That's what I think, too.
But I think others on the thread see it that he's going to that college so that the family can still claim the benefit.

JimmyTheWig

Another reasonableness test, OP:

Lets assume that this is the best college for him to go to and he goes.
He spends a lot of the time at his grandmother's house for convenience.
Lets say that between now and then the government back down on the child benefit changes and it stays universal.

Be honest about it, in whose name would you put the child benefit? Yours or the grandmother's?

TeamLowe

Dunroamin wrote: »

Is he planning to go to university after college?

I wonder whether fiddling the student grant/loan system is the main reason for this plan because it seems a lot of fuss and bother for the small amount of money involved at this stage.

When it comes to student loans, it's calculated on your parents income unless you have cut off all ties for at least two years i think it is. Course, it is just a tickbox that says you've cut off all ties...

mum25_2

One of my sons moved in with his grandparents from age 16. I just had to confirm he was now living there & they could then claim child benefit for him at first child rate instead of me plus CTC. They were then treated as a separate family. He used to spend most weekends at our house but that didn't affect anything. It worked well for all of us.

Dunroamin

TeamLowe wrote: »

When it comes to student loans, it's calculated on your parents income unless you have cut off all ties for at least two years i think it is. Course, it is just a tickbox that says you've cut off all ties...

Proving estrangement certainly isn't just a tick box exercise and living separately for 2 years with granny claiming child benefit would go some way towards proving this.

[Deleted User]

Christ on a bike,the OP must earn well above the national average wage and they are looking at ways to manipulate a payment of either £20 or £13 a week(they dont say),its almost enough to make me agree with the coalition(i said almost!)

Dunroamin

woodbine wrote: »

Christ on a bike,the OP must earn well above the national average wage and they are looking at ways to manipulate a payment of either £20 or £13 a week(they dont say),its almost enough to make me agree with the coalition(i said almost!)

Which is why I thing there may be more to ti than just the CB..

CKhalvashi

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

That's what I think, too.
But I think others on the thread see it that he's going to that college so that the family can still claim the benefit.

I lived with my GP’s (in Batumi, Georgia), then with my other GP's (in Krasnoyarsk, Russia) whilst I did my degree/MBA respectively, so this setup is one that I’m familiar with.

I see it as a good solution to the issue being discussed here, and in many ways, in OP’s son’s best interests.

There was no playing the system when I did it, nor did I do it for a cheap Uni. education, and I can see nothing wrong with OP suggesting this. I’m losing my CB for mine (8 and 10), and on the incomes we’re on, £35 a week is the least of our worries.

CK

zagfles

woodbine wrote: »

Christ on a bike,the OP must earn well above the national average wage and they are looking at ways to manipulate a payment of either £20 or £13 a week(they dont say),its almost enough to make me agree with the coalition(i said almost!)

This is MSE!! Some people will go to far greater effort to save 20p a week, never mind £20

JimmyTheWig

woodbine wrote: »

Christ on a bike,the OP must earn well above the national average wage and they are looking at ways to manipulate a payment of either £20 or £13 a week(they dont say),its almost enough to make me agree with the coalition(i said almost!)

But I think what the OP is saying is that going to this college and living with the grandmother is what's best for her son.
So that's what they are going to do.

But if, having made that choice, they can get an extra £20 a week for the grandmother then why not?