Child Benefit and EMA

bernardh_2

My ex has just got a letter from the Benefits people saying that the twins benefit ends in Sep.We have written to tell them that both are staying on - one for A`s and one for NVQ,so I assume benefits will be reinstated.
Am I correct in that the girls will get the EMA as well as their mother getting child ben?.Mother works part time for £10k pa.
Suffolk council have also kindly informed us that the girls will now need a pass for the school bus.£87 a term each.Ouch.

Magentasue

I had the same kind of letter, wrote back saying expected leaving date is June 06 and Child Benefit is reinstated until Sept 06.

As for EMA, my understanding is that it is based on household income so they should both get the full amount. Child Benefit isn't affected.

Fran

Magentasue wrote:

As for EMA, my understanding is that it is based on household income so they should both get the full amount. Child Benefit isn't affected.

As you say, it's based on income, so bernardh's children MAY get the full amount or may not, depending on the household income.

bernardh_2

Thanks Fran. Their mother and I were divorced last week( or should have been - 6weeks since nisi,nothing arrived re absolute yet).The kids live with their mother.As I mentioned she earns 10K plus tax benefits.
I work 4 days a week at present also get about £10k,but live totally apart from them.
Is the EMA based on their household income of 10k or our incomes of double that.
i.e are my earnings still regarded as part of her household?

Fran

As the kids live with their mother and you are seperate households it will be based on her household income and will not include your income. Presumably you pay some kind of maintenance so your income has already been taken into account when they assess her income. (I haven't got any links to back this up.)

Prudent

I may be wrong on this and am happy to be told so! However when I read the details of how the Ema was calculated it looked to me like 1) it is based on the income of the parent with care only and 2) Maintenance is not taken into account.

I know that maintenance is not taken into consideration when tax credits are calculated.

If the parent with care has an income of 10k then the girls should each be entitled to the highest rate of £30 per week from an Ema.

Magentasue

I think EMA used to be on parental income but now it's changed so that it's household income for the address where the children are 'based'.

Website here: http://www.dfes.gov.uk/financialhelp/ema/index.cfm?SectionID=1

Betty_Boop

i.e are my earnings still regarded as part of her household?

No, its household based as Magentasue says.
But - they base it on your household for the last tax year so April 2004 - April 2005 for students at school this Sept 2005 to next Sept 2006

magoogy

i too have twins leaving this time - well, my son is leaving and my daughter is staying on - my son has got himself an apprenticeship as an engineer with a firm (not a training scheme) and my daughter is taking her i.b's.....

this is a worrying time as im not sure what changes there will be - my partner is disabled and cannot work and im his full time carer - hence, at moment we get full council tax and rent paid - but, when he begins work will we then have to pay rent for my son - he will only be on about £80 take home wage - so, wont be taking much off him for board....also, will he have to pay council tax?

also, even though he begins work straightaway after leaving - does he still get the child benefit until september? i havent had a letter yet..........

Fran

magoogy wrote:

this is a worrying time as im not sure what changes there will be - my partner is disabled and cannot work and im his full time carer - hence, at moment we get full council tax and rent paid - but, when he begins work will we then have to pay rent for my son - he will only be on about £80 take home wage - so, wont be taking much off him for board....also, will he have to pay council tax?

also, even though he begins work straightaway after leaving - does he still get the child benefit until september? i havent had a letter yet..........

You will be seen as an exception to the "non-dependant deduction" because (assuming) your partner is on DLA. The [url=Are there any exceptions?

Yes. No deduction applies for any non-dependant whatsoever if the Housing Benefit claimant or any partner is:
Registered Blind
In receipt of Severe Disablement Allowance
In receipt of Disability Living Allowance
In receipt of Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance

or if the non-dependant:
Is under 18
Is under 25 and on Income Support / Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based)
Is on a Youth Training Scheme
Is a full time student
Normally lives elsewhere]Tameside.gov[/url] site also says:-

"Are there any exceptions? Yes. No deduction applies for any non-dependant whatsoever if the Housing Benefit claimant or any partner is: Registered Blind In receipt of Severe Disablement Allowance In receipt of Disability Living Allowance In receipt of Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance or if the non-dependant: Is under 18 Is under 25 and on Income Support / Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based) Is on a Youth Training Scheme Is a full time student Normally lives elsewhere"

There is also other info on rates etc. on the site. I'm pretty sure that you will receive Child Benefit until September, but make sure you inform Inland Revenue of your current situation.

bernardh_2

Thanks for all replies.
I can`t believe that it`s my daughters last day at school and still only 15. She has an interview to do Beauty Therapy at West Suffolk next month. Other daughter staying on for A`s.
Which brings me to another query.If her course is full,G intends to work for a year and start in 2006. Would she still get EMA in that case?