Child Benefit change of circumstances Question

cte1111

As a couple you claimed both child benefit and child tax credit. The CTC component of tax credits is paid to whichever partner is specified when you apply.

You cannot claim child tax credits now though. It is not possible for the claim for child benefit and the claim for CTC to be made by separate households. If you have more than 1 child, it might be possible for you to claim child benefit for 1 child and your ex for the other(s). Then you could possibly claim CTC but not otherwise.

So you really do need to call the tax credits people and tell them that you are no longer a couple. In the meantime you are likely to be receiving payments that you are not entitled to and could end up with an overpayment.

You may or may not be able to put in a new claim for working tax credit. Until and unless you manage to get child benefit put into your name then you will not be able to claim CTC. It is only the main carer who can claim child related benefits, usually decided by who has them most nights I think.

Moneyproblems111

That makes it a bit clearer

So it goes by separate households that explains it

I have called tax credit and informed them we are not a couple but they sent the forms to me basically asked on the phone who buys more stuff for the child which is me but just just said send the child certificate which i thought odd as they must of seen i wasn't getting Child benefit

So unsure what will happen when they receive the forms from me

Yeah I did read about who has them most nights but its the same amount of time here with dad then same goes for mum so just confusing how to sort it out really

I ended up ringing Child benefit today as his mum has not called them to inform them of change of circumstances i waited a month for her to make the effort but she has not done so i thought its best i informed them as didn't want to get in any trouble

I am not trying to drop her in it but she should of informed ages ago as i don't want my child money stopped due to that reason

It was in her name so thought it should of been down to her to call them but don't fancy getting in trouble or overpaid etc and have to pay money back

princessdon

Is the ex in receipt of benefits?

If she is then I can't see her willingly giving up the money. AFAIK they use the number of nights per week, so if they are with you for 3 nights and 4 days - she would still get the entitlement.

Poppie68

Is your child at nursery? whose address have they got on file, yours or the mothers. Things like this can have a bearing on claims. You phoning CTC and getting the forms sent to you could be messing the claim up. You need to get together with the mother and sort it out, if she is claiming CB and you claim CTC both agencies could stop your claims until they have investigated. Whose address did you give for CB?

Moneyproblems111

I used to get CTC and she got CB

Night per week is the same for each of us..

Money gets split anyhow 50/50 each of us set up a standing order or direct debt so whoever he child that week gets the CTC/CB for that week and so fourth

i am just worried what the outcome is going to be now as she never informed them for a month or could be longer then we broke up and no longer lives here but the CB claim is active still and never told them about change of circumstances

i am not bother who gets it as split money either way just want it sorted to be honest and want her to make the effort to sort it but her not telling them and informing them i can just see it causing problems either overpaid or getting stopped for a while

When I spoke to tax credit office they said whoever buys more and does more for him should get it which at the moment is me. but i am not fussed either way I just want it to be sorted and for her to keep benefit records up to date and inform them of changes

Shouldn't really be down to me to inform CB about changes to the child if it wasn't in my name. but I think a month was enough time for her to tell them when she walks past the job centre to drop/pick up child

Just don't want to get in trouble from CB

if that makes sense

princessdon

I have no further advice but wanted to say that you both sound like really good parents. It is rare to see this kind of arrangement and does show how (at the moment) you are putting the child's needs first.

Good luck with it all

Poppie68

Forget about the CB, it's not income related etc so you will not have a problem with it. The only way you might have a problem is if you start to confuse the system. If the mother is claiming the CB she needs to claim the CTC, and just carry on splitting the money with you when you have the child. I take it you have the child 7 nights and the mother has the next 7 nights and so on?

Poppie68

princessdon wrote: »

I have no further advice but wanted to say that you both sound like really good parents. It is rare to see this kind of arrangement and does show how (at the moment) you are putting the child's needs first.

Good luck with it all

It is rare, and maybe alot of other parents could learn a few things from these parents.

Moneyproblems111

Poppie68 wrote: »

Is your child at nursery? whose address have they got on file, yours or the mothers. Things like this can have a bearing on claims. You phoning CTC and getting the forms sent to you could be messing the claim up. You need to get together with the mother and sort it out, if she is claiming CB and you claim CTC both agencies could stop your claims until they have investigated. Whose address did you give for CB?

Nope not at nursery
Everything down here like doctors, hospital is all linked to my address

Shes made no effort to register child in her area, i got the GP down here to check as i was going to set child up on this temp GP thingy don't know what you call it but as you cant be registered twice you get a temp doctor thingy

Well CB is pointing here so i had to give that address, cant give them my exs new address is she has not changed the claim as it wont match records

Moneyproblems111

Poppie68 wrote: »

Forget about the CB, it's not income related etc so you will not have a problem with it. The only way you might have a problem is if you start to confuse the system. If the mother is claiming the CB she needs to claim the CTC, and just carry on splitting the money with you when you have the child. I take it you have the child 7 nights and the mother has the next 7 nights and so on?

Yes that's correct,