Do I need to inform anyone?

RainbowDreamer

I am worried I will get into trouble, so just want to ask if I need to inform anyone on the current situation. A friend has said that I do not need to unless the children are away for more than 6 weeks, but I just want to double check.

My ex partner (the father of my children) has refused to bring the children back as normal. I now havent seen them for 2 weeks. It is going to court so I will not see them for hopefully a total of 3 weeks.

I claim Income Support, Child Benefit, Tax Credits and Housing Benefit as a single mother. Do I need to inform them that the children have not been with me for 2 weeks? Am I best to wait until its been to court and then tell them how many weeks they were not in my care for?

Obviously I want to ensure I do everything correctly. The last thing I need is financial stress on top of everything else.

Please do not judge me negatively.. I have done nothing wrong for my ex to refuse to return the children. And of course I am missing them greatly.
Please be gentle!

pmlindyloo

Although I can find no information on this I would think that as the current main carer you would not have to inform anyone unless there was a change of circumstances where you were no longer the main carer.

After all, there must be lots of people whose children go off to visit someone for the summer holidays.

I would stop worrying about this but if you want a definite answer then I would just give them a call on Monday.

Good luck with everything.

thorsoak

From what I remember from previous posts, RD, was your ex not trying to get the CB from you because he reckoned he had them for 50% of the time? If I am wrong, please accept my apologies.

However....it is possible that he is trying to claim for them - so in your circumstances, I would let DWP know the situation - that although they are with him AT THE MOMENT they should be with you and that there are court proceedings in action that they be returned to you.

Hope all is going well otherwise - no-one is judging you {{hugs}}

RainbowDreamer

Your correct he was. he is now doing everything in his power to have full custody, which won't happen but he probably will put a claim in. He has already put a school application in after mine which may cause problems.

I will give them a call on Monday and explain the situation.

wiccanlou

I hope you get your children back and soon xxx

kingfisherblue

What an awful situation for you and your children to be in. I hope that everything is sorted out quickly for you x

dseventy

The Child Benefit and the Child tax credits are for the costs associated with raising the children. Whilst I am unclear about the lengths of time required to notify them (why dont you ask?) this money is meant for the children and you no longer have them.

D70

RainbowDreamer

dseventy I no longer have them through no fault of my own. Which is why I am refusing to hand money over to the ex. He has decided to take this steps.. that have not been implemented by anyone like ss or the police. Therefore if he is keeping them he can pay for them himself.
It is not my fault he is refusing to return them.. so why should I have to give him money towards them? It is being saved in my savings account and will be spent on them as soon as they are returned.
They should be back within a week (fingers crossed).

Notmyrealname

RainbowDreamer wrote: »

Therefore if he is keeping them he can pay for them himself.

Which as I recall is what you expected him to do as he had them 50% of the time whilst you kept all the cash.

When he gives them back and ends up with them half the time again, you'll be giving him half the CB and CTC?

Thought not. Its all about the money isn't it? After all, it can't be about what is best for the kids because you were quite happy to leave them with him half the week and told him to go whislte for the money when he said he was struggling financially to do it. I also notice you seem to have deleted most of your posts in that thread - I wonder why.

My brother has an ex like you. Even her own mother has disowned her.

dseventy

Its not about who is fault here or where blame lies (you seem to focus on this a lot!).

Its about money provided by the state for the upkeep of your children (as you are unable to support them yourself). Currently the state pays you money for the upbringing of the children. You don't have the children, but they are still eating/living elsewhere. That money is for the children.

While there appears to be a history of abuse and a bad split here, the issue remains that you don't currently care for your children, someone else does (regardless of fault) yet you are banking the money.

I go back to my original post and suggest you call the relevant departments dealing with your IS, CB, CTC and HB and tell/ask them.

D70

RainbowDreamer

He had them half the week because he refused to return them any earlier. So it was his choice to do that knowing he would not be getting money towards them.
And he will not be having them that much once its been through court because he has clearly shown himself to be a father that is not doing what is in the best interests of the children.
I asked advice and got my answer, I will be phoning them tomorrow. And as for I should be giving him half of the CB and TC I asked them for advice on this and they said it is my choice. He doesnt pay maintenance so therefore I do not have to give him half of the benefits.. makes us equal on the financial front.

I will no longer be replying to this thread. Lovely how a mother who has just spent 2 weeks going through hell and probably wont see her children for at least another week is getting bashed on here and treated like the worst mother out there.
I suppose I deserve everything I get for marrying such a sh** man do I? Guess so. anyway.. I'm out. Not in the mood for being bashed on here for f all.