Seperated any advice on benefits available

Katy_W

Hi

I am recently seperated and would appreciate any advice on benefits available. I work full time and have 2 children. I have informed the council tax office but not sure if I can claim any furthe benefits as a single parent.

Also does anyone know how much I should ask for child maintenance.

Thanks

pinkpig08

If you contact the CSA they will assess your ex husbands wages, and work out the percentage of maintenance from those. Based on what you've said he'll pay 15% of his net wages for 2 children.

You may be entitled to working tax credit if your salary falls within the brackets (not sure what they are though). Do you claim child tax credit? There is also a childcare element of working tax credit to help pay for childcare whilst you're at work. If you're not eligible for that then you could sacrifice a portion of your gross income and 'buy' childcare vouchers.

Katy_W

Hi

I'm not entitled to child tax credit at the moment but do claim credit to help with childcare. If I go through the CSA doesn't he pay the money direct to them, I would rather not involve them if possible.

christabell

Don't forget https://www.entitledto.co.uk

pinkpig08

You can go to their website where they have an online calculator to help you work out how much he should pay. Best to keep CSA out of you both still get along, they can be a nightmare! However, if you do involve them, he doesn't have to pay through them, he can still pay direct to you.

I think you should be able to claim child tax credit. Is it working tax credit you can't claim? I am in the same position. We can't claim WTC but get the lowest rate of CTC at £10 per week.

Dick_here

pinkpig08 wrote: »

If you contact the CSA they will assess your ex husbands wages, and work out the percentage of maintenance from those. Based on what you've said he'll pay 15% of his net wages for 2 children.

My solicitor told me it was 15% for the first child, and 10% for each additional one (not sure what the maximum is though !).

loftus

15% for one child, 20% for two and 25% for three. 25% is the maximum. Thats via the CSA. You can of course come to an agreement between yourselves that goes above those percentages.

Dick_here

Hopefully your ex- will want to pay more than the legal minimum for his kids, and you won't have to go via the CSA to get it. Why not start by telling him that ?