Should I let ex DH claim child benefit?

[Pinacoladaqueen]

Me and DH are going through a nasty divorce I have been the “breadwinner” for the past 2 years and he works part time hours.

I have purchased my own home and I am moving in on Saturday and he is due to become homeless. Unless he stays with me for a little bit (which I do not want) he is refusing to rent privately.

The housing officer has said you can’t apply for housing for you and the children unless you claim child benefit.

Im concerned that if I allow him to claim it I won’t see any of the money again and will loose this access.

AIBU to not let him claim for it?

Don't let him claim it. His life, his problem. He needs to rent if that's all he can afford to do.

No. You claim it.

will you be having 50/50 or is it eow? if it's the latter, then definitely don't, as he'll be able to use all his free time to increase his earning. my parents split and my mum got to keep the social housing and all the benefits and my dad went into a bnb until the social gave him a one bedroom flat. they would help him if he's homeless, i presume, but just not give him like a 3 or 2 bedroom. if he gets a one bedroom to begin with, he can always swap to something bigger, as people always looking to downsize.

Was he working part-time to care for the children?

Will he continue being their primary carer?

Will you be paying him CM?

Do you want him to have somewhere the children can visit him?

Does him being homeless benefit you or your children?

If he claims it then he is classed as the primary carer. All other benefits like UC etc..will follow and even if you share 50/50 you may have to pay CMS as they look to who is in receipt of the child benefit.

It may also end of a bigger share of the divorce settlement to him if he argues he is the primary carer.

Tread very carefully.

This

Who is the primary carer? Who will have the children more?

Who is the primary caregiver? Is he part time as he was looking after the children?

If you can afford to buy a home, do you need to claim it? It just seems there is a large disparity if you have been working full time and can afford to purchase your home by yourself and he will be left homeless?

I'd be considering the impact on my children and if this "win" for the ex means he can house and have access to the children, then I would consider it. What are his other options? Unless you have a massive backstory about abusive behaviour or him being a terrible father....

Depends how much you earn?

Whoever has the children the most claims it and, things may have changed, but CMS and the courts used to use this to determine who was the primary carer.

He can't 'refuse' to rent privately.

I'm assuming you will the RP if he has nowhere to live? You claim it.

Is he working part time because he the main carer for the children? Therefore facilitating your full time hours by providing the childcare. Because if he works part time to cover childcare then he should be claiming the child benefit.

He can't refuse to rent privately. The council will see as he's making himself intentionally homeless therefore won't help him.

Don't let him claim it. If they live with you the majority of the time then he is not entitled and it's fraud.

He can claim hb as a single adult.
If council have no housing he will do what? Park bench? Relative?

Who is primary care giver and how often does he have the kids? I would only consider letting him claim it if he has the kids 50/50 or more and will be doing so for the considerable future.

I think crucially what is the plan for the DC?

Does he work part time to care for the children?

I think if this was a man asking if he should leave a SAHM destitute, the response would be a resounding no.

This sounds like very good advice

If she was a SAHM she would have her children the majority of the time.

The OP left out the information about who looked after the children the most and who would have them the most if he could
secure housing.

He doesn't actually need your permission to claim it. He could make a counter claim and the CB people would decide who gets it. Or if you have multiple children he could claim for 1 or more and you could claim for the rest.

Who will the children live with?

I think if this was a man asking if he should leave a wife who went PT and sacrificed career progression, pension contributions and financial security to raise his children destitute, the response would be a resounding no.

Better?