Kids pocket money and IS

looby75

My ex gives our kids £5 a week pocket money, but for various reasons he can't always give them it every week, sometimes he would give them 2/3 weeks pocket money at a time. It didn't used to be an issue but now dd is a a bit older and going out more with her mates she would like to get her pocket money every week.

So ex has asked if he can pay £40 every 4 weeks into my bank account (we use the same bank so he can transfer it online instantly) So I can give it to the kids every week (IYSWIM)

The thing is I'm on Income support at the moment, and am worried that a regular payment into my account might get me into trouble. The money is NOT for me and ex has said he will happily confirm to anyone who needs to know that the money is the kids pocket money.

Does anyone know if this will be ok? It would just make things much easier for the kids and ex.

hjb123

Do the kids not have a bank account that he could pay it into instead?

looby75

DD does, but she would have to go to the bank to get money out as there isn't a cash machine where we live. Ds is only 6 and again I would need to go to the bank to get his money out. (He doesn't always spend all his pocket money but does use some of it every week to buy his dr who magazine or what ever his current obsession is lol The rest gets put in his money box until he has enough to buy a game for his ds or wii)

hjb123

But if your ex was going to get money put into the accounts how would you get it out then?

looby75

I can get cashback at the local co op as I have a visa debit card, dd can't as she only has a cashcard account.

ShockingPink

Don't know whether this will help, but you can withdraw cash free from the post office if you're with one of quite a few banks - Barclays; Lloyds; A&L (can't remember who else!)

looby75

dd's account is HSBC, I'll have to check if you can use the post office with them. Thanks for the suggestion.

hjb123

If he sees them, could he not say put some into an account for them and give them some when he sees them? That way they may learn more about saving and budgeting? Hope you get something worked out

Am sure the option of him putting regular payment into your account will be a no no as they would probably say your account your money regardless of your ex saying its for the kids

looby75

He could do that, in a way that is what happens now but it would just be easier for both ex and the kids if he could pay it in one go and then I hand it out each week.

I know I can earn up to £20 a week without it affecting IS, I wonder if the pocket money payment could be classed as that?

hjb123

Guess as its a small amount it may be okay as it wouldnt affect the IS but if you for any other reasons got some other money going into the account then they may start looking in more detail. Is it just that he doesnt want to give them it in one job lot, would rather it is spread out over the month? Could he not maybe give you the cash and you distribute it to the kids that way? You could try speaking to the jobcentreplus and see if they are able to shed some light on the situation

looby75

He just phoned before and asked could he transfer the money to my account and I hand it out as dd mentioned it was a bit of a pain not getting her pocket money every week (she's not a greedy kid btw, it's just I don't have a lot of money to spare and she doesn't like to ask me for money to go out with her mates, thats what she uses her pocket money for) I think it just seemed the most simple and straight forward way of getting the money to the kids seeing as I am with them every day. I said yes and that I would text him my account details but that was before I thought about the potential problems it could cause. I'll prob phone the jobcentre plus line tomorrow and ask for advice. Just thought someone here might know and I could either tell him it's a no go or text him my account number tonight.

Thanks for your help anyway