What's the most sensible way to share universal credits in case of split custody?

ColonelCabbage

Not sure where else to ask this question since the Discussion forum is closed.

The state ignores the existence of 50/50 split custody (although child psychologists agree the best for children), instead paying all child-related UC to one parent only.

How to share it though? In my case there's only one child so there's a £315 child element to share. But in many scenarios, the parent with the child registered in their UC claim also gets ~£100 extra housing and has ~£210 less taken as earning deductions, further increasing their monthly UC payment by ~£300. In other words, the inclusion of the child in the claim of that parent does not merely add £315 but closer to £625 per month. Again, that's in many scenarios, not necessarily in all scenarios.

Assuming that's the case, should each parent get £625 / 2 = £312, taking into account all the "side effects" of the child inclusion?

Or £315 / 2 = £157, taking into account only the £315 child element? (if so, why just that part?)

Spoonie_Turtle

If you're not happy with you and your ex's situation you need to either communicate with her, or get some form of mediation.

Edit: the families board on the forum might be able to help you.  This is no longer a question of benefit entitlement because you know how UC is worked out and the claimant is - as far as we know - getting what their entitlement says they should be.

elsien

What people morally feel should happen is academic. 

Them’s the rules. 

Any accommodation within that has to be on an individual basis by the couple concerned.
Otherwise you’re getting into the realms of policy debate, which this forum is not about.

ColonelCabbage

Spoonie_Turtle said:

If you're not happy with you and your ex's situation you need to either communicate with her, or get some form of mediation.

Edit: the families board on the forum might be able to help you.  This is no longer a question of benefit entitlement because you know how UC is worked out and the claimant is - as far as we know - getting what their entitlement says they should be.

Right but people there probably aren't familiar with the different elements of UC and I would need advice from people who are.

Also a third-party mediation, after taking note of both side's opinions, would probably combine them with some kind of objective reasoning in order to deliver their advice. Is there not any principle or guidance on this issue? Some common practices perhaps? Anything at all?

@elsien yeah I'm not a moral relativist, I believe in the existence of objective justice/fairness not just people's feelings. Otherwise we would have to comply with the insane whims of complete psychos and call it justice. 

Spoonie_Turtle

ColonelCabbage said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

If you're not happy with you and your ex's situation you need to either communicate with her, or get some form of mediation.

Edit: the families board on the forum might be able to help you.  This is no longer a question of benefit entitlement because you know how UC is worked out and the claimant is - as far as we know - getting what their entitlement says they should be.

Right but people there probably aren't familiar with the different elements of UC and I would need advice from people who are.

Also a third-party mediation, after taking note of both side's opinions, would probably combine them with some kind of objective reasoning in order to deliver their advice. Is there not any principle or guidance on this issue? Some common practices perhaps? Anything at all?

You're missing the point.  What you're asking is beyond the remit and outwith the rules of this board.

The members on the family board will likely be better able to help you.  If anything, those over there unfamiliar with the benefits and the different elements might be even more objective.  You can quite simply say how much extra she gets for having your shared custody child (don't forget to include child benefit), what each element is for, and see what they think. 

[And as this is a moneysaving forum, chances are several members there will be familiar with how UC works anyway, and perhaps some may have experience with this kind of scenario.]

I'm not saying any of this to be pedantic or trying to enforce rules like a self-appointed bouncer where I have no authority(!), just trying to help you find somewhere that you'll stand a better chance of getting the help and discussion you seek.

huckster

Contact your MP about this issue, as it will be down to Politicians to contact DWP ministers to register the issue with them and seek an answer.

I have raised an issue with an MP previously and had a response from a Government department within a few weeks, even though the answer received was not what I wanted to hear.

In the situation you are in, you might want to seek advice from relevant forums, where fathers of children are facing similar issues.  And they will probably tell you that there is not much you can do.

theoretica

The question is not what is fairest for the parents, but what is best for the child.  Half the housing element wouldn't enable both parents to rent a bedroom for the child, for instance.

NedS

Simple fact remains, that in law (UC Regulations 2013) there is no way to split a child on UC. You have to nominate who the main carer is for the child. If you cannot decide, a decision maker can decide for you.

If you then wish to split payments between yourselves as two responsible adults after the fact, that is something you are free to do - the parent receiving the UC payments is free to give half to the other parent in respect of their 50/50 caring responsibilities.

As others have mentioned, if you do not agree with the law, the process for seeking change is through your MP.

ColonelCabbage

Thanks @Spoonie_Turtle and everyone else, also good point @theoretica. I'll create a new thread in the family forum to see what people think.

ColonelCabbage

There's only one child so there's a £315 child element. My ex-partner has our child registered on her UC claim and I assume she also gets ~£100 extra housing and has ~£210 less taken as earning deductions, getting in total ~£625 extra compared to not having our child register in her claim.

I recently ask her to share half of all that since our child spends half of the nights at each parent's. Also both she and her new partner work whereas I'm in dire straits income-wise (largely due to health issues preventing from working full-time as employee, there's no part-time work in my industry and freelance work is pretty bad atm).

Question is, how should the child-related UC be reasonably shared between us? If we go through mediation what would be the objective criteria used to reach a decision?

powerspowers

Hi I look at peoples income/outgoing for work and can’t say I’ve come across cases where parents are splitting the child elements of benefits in a structured manner. The system isn’t very geared up towards a 50/50 split and it’s typical that even with a 50/50 split one parent is paying child maintenance. 

In your case I’d be making sure your child’s other parent is paying for things like school uniform, clubs etc rather than you paying. 

There’s no stipulation that child elements should go on things specific to the child though, and ultimately up to the other parent how they manage their finances. 

Are you claiming everything possible in relation to your health condition? You could also try discretionary housing payments if you are getting housing elements of UC but it doesn’t cover your rent.