Benefits

[Charlieandthechocolatecake]

Posting here for traffic, my sincere apologies!

I'm not a "scrounger' as a friend of mine has suggested. No bashing please!

DP has been offered a job, 55k pa.

I claim child benefit, it's not needed but from all the research I've done it's recommended to still claim it for national insurance/ state pension purposes etc.

CB goes into my account. If DP takes this job I will still claim for it for the above reasons. I'm aware that I'd still get the full amount but that some of it needs to be paid back.

I'm assuming the CB people won't write to us to tell us how to go about this so I'm not sure what to do?

Again, this isn't about me wanting whatever I can get from tax payers! I just need to know what to do. FWIW I earn £25k pa and we get CB for our 2 DS's

Your advice has been wonderful! Thank you! I'm not a sahm but I do base my work around what is convenient for DP's career. From the info given by you wonderful people I'll contact CB and inform them of our change of circumstances (if he takes the job). A very helpful poster said that his pension contributions would be taken into account to so I'll consider that too!

Another very helpful poster said that my friend could possibly be a dick. Yes, she is indeed! That said, I wouldn't give her up for the world. She was with me through my PND and would check in with me regularly when I could barely function.

My own family haven't been there like she has so I'm willing to be the person that 'takes food out of her children's mouths' for a week or two.

No doubt next week we'll have another issue to argue about! But I love her, unconditionally. She has been there for me even when I ignored her for months on end with my PND. If there's ever a definition for true friendship, this is it. She still a bitch though! (I've told her as much) x

It's not CB you have to contact if you are already claiming it as they don't need to know your change of circumstances. It's HMRC that you will be dealing with as your DH will register for self assessment to do a tax return.

You don’t need to contact CB unless you want to stop receiving it - which you shouldn’t do until your DH earns over 60k after pension contributions. Even then, you could still claim it but your DH’s tax code would be adjusted to claim it back.

It is worth your DH keeping a close eye on his pension contributions to keep under the threshold as long as possible.

I was entitled to it but ricked the opt out of payment. This meant that I received credit for the ni contributions to build up my state pension. That way DH did not need to pay it back. However we have joint access to all monies so there was no need for me to receive the payment as I never havento ask for cash.

OK

Your circumstances are not the same then. Because OP is working, so what applied to you will not to her.

The way OP describes her work suggest she may not be a tax/ni payer though

She earns £25k so will be paying tax/NI

You don't need to claim for NI or pension purposes though if you are earning £25k in your own right.

You could always point out to your friend if she wants more money she could always get a job.

CB used to be universal but now it is classed as part of the benefit system since it became means tested.

Those on about op' friend, have they ever been financially abused??

If her partner was not there financially she would be entitled to the benefits! and he is not there financially is he? as he is financially abusive.

Yes she needs to leave him but that's a whole different thread with a whole lot of reasons as to why, when, if and how many tries a women takes to leave.

Thank you for all of your advice, i will contact HMRC rather than CB.

I'm happy its rather conclusive that I'm not a benefits scrounger!

As for my friend, although she's taking it out on me, I know she's just projecting. And as her friend, I'm more than happy to absorb that frustration.

I'll be there for her when she most needs me. That's what friends are for right? I can't imagine being in her situation. Benefit fraud or not she is being financially abused and I hate to say it but I'd consider claiming as well in her circumstances.

Again, thank you all, you've been a lot more helpful than Google x

What support is there for financially abused people whose partners keep their income?

If my friend didn't claim benefits as though she was living alone she'd be feeding her kids bread every day.

The government assume that partners contribute equally but thats not always the case is it?

I know the best advice would be to leave but that's not always practical either. I really do feel for her and other men and women in her position.

Your entitled to it, whatever anyone says?

My friend 800k wage and still gets PIP for her autistic son.

If he earns £55,000 and pays £6k into his pension his salary for CB purposes is £49,000 and you will continue to receive full CB - no repayments or tax returns required.

Your entitled to it, whatever anyone says?

No, it goes on earnings.

My friend 800k wage and still gets PIP for her autistic son.

PIP isn't means tested. CB is.

Not sure why you think someone getting PIP (DLA?) means someone else should be entitled to Child Benefit

Everybody can claim it though regardless of earnings. Some or all may have to be paid back depending on earnings but that doesn't mean you are prohibited from claiming it in the first place

Just be careful I do know that if a household income is over a certain threshold you will be made to pay any money back and that includes CB.

Earlier the year there were articles in the news with regards to people who received letters demanding back thousands.

Plus if you are working too no doubt your yearly income is above 55 000 a year.

It's not based on joint earnings, just 1 person who is the higher earner. The OP is aware there may be some to pay back but that depends on pension contributions

You’re not entitled to it and will receive a letter to pay back what you owe if you carry on claiming, we had a 5k bill I didn’t realise if you earn over £50k your not entitled to the full amount. You can still accept payment of child benefit to get the pension contributions but need to pay money back.