Universal Credit Shared Custody

dodge074

Hello.
I have recently split up with my partner and have been forced to move out and begin renting a private flat.  I now have my 5 year old daughter 50/50.  I am not on a very high income and am struggling every month to pay bills etc.  I have been borrowing money to get through the months.  I decided to look at whether or not I am entitled to any help or benefits so I looked on the entitled2 website and filled in the questionnaire.   Now because my ex (my daughters mother) is naturally claiming the child benefit for my daughter, I am unable to put her In the dependants box.  This means I am being accessed as a single man with no dependants meaning I’m entitled to £0.  If however I put my daughter in, I’m entitled to £650 in benefits.  

I do have a dependant, I have her exactly half the time and I obviously need a 2 bedroom place To accommodate her.  

Is there anything I can do? 

calcotti

Unfortunately only one person can be treated as the main carer for benefits purposes.

dodge074

How can there be two people, in exactly the same circumstances.  One entitled to £725 per month and the other £0.  

It doesn’t make sense to me.  

NedS

If you are sharing the responsibility, you will need to come to an arrangement with your ex-partner to also share the financial responsibility. If you are having your daughter 50% of the time, perhaps you should suggest she makes a financial contribution towards that.

tacpot12

NedS suggestion is the best way forward. You can use your knowledge to justify that your ex should make some financial contribution. You don't need a two bedroom property to accommodate her, you can get a sofa bed and sleep on that for three or four nights a week.