Child benefit application

separatedinsamehome

Hello all,

My wife and I have recently separated, but still living in the same property as we figure out how we can afford to separate fully. She wants to apply for child benefit without my salary being accounted for in the application. There is the option to select "separated" but wanted to ask if there was any proof required or we should have ready just in case.

Thanks again.

[Deleted User]

 Doesn't look like you are permanently separated yet....

https://www.gov.uk/child-benefit-tax-charge

"Partner’ means someone you’re not permanently separated from who you’re married to, in a civil partnership with or living with as if you were."

calcotti

Child benefit is not means tested. Your salary is only relevant if over £50,000 and therefore liable to the high income child benefit tax charge.

sheramber

  https://www.flip.co.uk/claiming-child-benefit-after-divorce-or-separation/

The legislation defines ‘partners’ as:

• a married couple or a couple in civil partnership who are not separated by a court order, nor are they separated where the separation is likely to remain permanent*
• a couple who are not married / in civil partnership but who live together as if they were.

*Note that the law does not require the married couple or those in civil partnership to live together as a matter of course. This is because the charging provisions need to be extended for those people who do not live with the child as we discuss below.

separatedinsamehome

okay thanks for this @sheramber So we have no intention to get back together and are only in the same property till we figure out how to live in separate places, the separation is permanent. Was wondering if getting any documents to show we are separated would help avoid any complications

calcotti

separatedinsamehome said:

okay thanks for this @sheramber So we have no intention to get back together and are only in the same property till we figure out how to live in separate places, the separation is permanent. Was wondering if getting any documents to show we are separated would help avoid any complications

As you can see from what has been quoted the fact that you are separated makes no difference while you are still married (unless the separation is by court order).

separatedinsamehome

thanks @calcotti that helps clarify things

separatedinsamehome

sorry forgot to ask, so if we got a legal separation https://www.gov.uk/legal-separation would you think that would be sufficient?

calcotti

separatedinsamehome said:

sorry forgot to ask, so if we got a legal separation https://www.gov.uk/legal-separation would you think that would be sufficient?

Looks like it - but I'm just reading the same stuff as you.

sheramber

You may be asked if you have separate lives as in separate food buying, separate meals, etc