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Child Benefit For Child Living Abroad

Hi,

I recently broke up with my girlfriend who has just given birth to a child. Both of them live in Belgium whilst I'm resident in the UK and have been all my life. The child was born in Belgium.

I was checking how to claim child benefit but they need birth certificate and passport used to enter the UK. Does anybody know if and how I can claim the child benefit as I'm still required to provide financial support and she will be spending time in UK quite regularly? The child does not yet have a passport or has visited the UK yet, due to make first visit in September.

Thanks

Comments

  • TELLIT01
    TELLIT01 Posts: 17,474 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper PPI Party Pooper
    As the regulations state that the birth certificate and the passport used for entry are required, and the child has never entered the UK why do you think you will be able to claim Child Benefit in the UK. If the child and mother live in Belgium is there an equivalent to claim there?
    In the UK CB is generally paid to the parent with main responsibility for the child, that will be the mother in this instance.
  • teddysmum
    teddysmum Posts: 9,500 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    TELLIT01 wrote: »
    As the regulations state that the birth certificate and the passport used for entry are required, and the child has never entered the UK why do you think you will be able to claim Child Benefit in the UK. If the child and mother live in Belgium is there an equivalent to claim there?
    In the UK CB is generally paid to the parent with main responsibility for the child, that will be the mother in this instance.
    Plenty of workers from the EU (mostly Polish) are getting child benefit for children who have never been to this country. The government's proposal to still allow this to happen (even though there may be doubts about a child's existence) has caused controversy in parliament.
  • kingfisherblue
    kingfisherblue Posts: 9,203 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Xmas Saver!
    Hi,

    I recently broke up with my girlfriend who has just given birth to a child. Both of them live in Belgium whilst I'm resident in the UK and have been all my life. The child was born in Belgium.

    I was checking how to claim child benefit but they need birth certificate and passport used to enter the UK. Does anybody know if and how I can claim the child benefit as I'm still required to provide financial support and she will be spending time in UK quite regularly? The child does not yet have a passport or has visited the UK yet, due to make first visit in September.

    Thanks

    I know that some families can claim CB even if their children are abroad, but my understanding is that the parents are still together, or that the parent in this country is a single parent who has left their children in the care of family members in another country. I'm not aware of anything that says that parents who are no longer together can claim CB if the child does not live with them. In the UK, when parents are not together any longer, the main carer claims CB.

    Also, will Brexit affect any claims for CB for children in other countries?
  • tomtom256
    tomtom256 Posts: 2,242 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    As you are not a couple and are not the childs primary carer you will not be entitled to child benefit.

    Child benefit is not there to pay your child maintenance!
  • Child benefit is here precisely to support child maintainance was my impression, it's not a substitute for child support but to help me cover costs when she stays which will be approx 4 months of the year. Like I said I'm still financially responsible when she's here.

    HMRC advised me to submit a claim with a covering letter but I'm unsure if I'll get it and wondering if anybody else has claimed child benefit when children are abroad.
  • TELLIT01
    TELLIT01 Posts: 17,474 Forumite
    Tenth Anniversary 10,000 Posts Name Dropper PPI Party Pooper
    There's no harm in applying but, from my experience of working within DWP, it seems very unlikely that you will receive it. As has already been said, CB is paid to the primary carer, and even if you have the child 4 months of the year you will not be the primary carer.
  • paddedjohn
    paddedjohn Posts: 7,512 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    While the kid is here with you in the UK, the responsible parent will still continue to claim child benefits in Belgium, why not ask for this?
    Be Alert..........Britain needs lerts.
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