Ex wants to claim child benefit

[Helloyou111]

Hi , I’m unsure what to do . I have three daughers with my ex ( ranging from 4-12) and a baby (who I haven’t nothing to do with her father so don’t get money off him ) Ex has just said that because I have 4 children I can only technically claim for 2 of them (which is correct ) so he wants to put two of the girls on his claim ( he’s hoping to get money towards his rent etc . Also he will get child benefit for them (I don’t think he realises that the 2 child cap doesn’t apply here ) and anyway We have 3 children together not 4 as one isn’t his . I can see his point BUT he earns over 45k a year , has tons of help with childcare if needed ( me included ) and has a very good career ( which I never had as I spend 10 years looking after the kids for him to get it and sacrificed my option of having one hence I only earn 400 a month and heavily rely on benefits to get by . if he does this I’ll also have to pay bedroom tax as “my two on my claim are expected to share “ even though I have the kids half the time . also I’m limited to work as I have zero family here or help , I also help him by working around his working patterns . Ive worked out I’ll lose around £250 a month and after all my bills etc I have £50 left for doing things now as it is , clothes , birthdays , emergencies like today I had to get a new washing machine etc . I basically won’t be able to afford to live . I don’t get child maintanance. We both buy clothes for the kids , split school trips etc but what can I say 😭😭

Sorry I think I need to clarify !! So we have the girls exactly 50/50 . I do get child benefit for all 4 kids but now he wants to claim for two of them so my child benefit will drop from 330 to 180 a months ( loss of 150) plus I’ll have to pay bedroom tax . I don’t think this is fair as technically we have 3 kids between us so he can’t count my baby into the equation and just assume he can start claiming for 2 kids . Also they do use a third bedroom so why should I be paying for it . I thought I wasn’t able to claim for child maintenance as we share custody?? He seems to think he will be 300 a month better off but I will be 300 a month worse off . I won’t be able to afford live

I know someone said about me getting a full time job . It’s easier said than done , my baby is still very young , I would have to find the upfront cost to place her in Creche as well as top up the money every month also id need to find childcare for my other children when I work but if they are not on my claim I won’t be entitled to claim and help towards childcare for them . full time jobs are also difficult to come by around here unless I go into caring and hours are not suitable around my children. I do not have any help as I have no family here

Hi , I have offered to have them as much as I can . I only work days he has them ( his father picks them up from school etc for him ) my food shopping bill must be double his as he only needs to feed them on weekends , he has lots of help with childcare but I have zero when I have them

You can’t claim child tax
credits anymore.

Just say no.

Explain that he makes a lot more than you and your kids will suffer if you can’t afford to care for them properly because you’ll get less money.

Does he want more access to them?

Are you still with the new baby’s father?

You can claim child benefit for as many children as you have. There's no cap. It's UC that has a cap.

Just say no and keep your claim. If he disagrees he has to write to them and then they will say there is a counter claim and make a decision if you can't agree.

Tell him no. Also stop giving him 50/50 and bang a maintenance claim in.

Tell him outright you will be much worse off if he proceeds with his CB claim so that’s a non starter.

with 4 kids I’d expect you to get heaps of UC if you worked part time!

Why can’t you get maintenance from the babies father?

Tell him he won't be £300 per month better off. It is £25.60 for child 1 and £16.95 for ant other children per week. He isn't your 4th child's dad, so can't claim for her anyway. Plus there is no child benefit claim cap on child numbers, so you can claim for all of them.

Say no and tell him that if he tries to contest it wiyh child benefits, they should be looking at what is best for the children. That is that the lower income person gets the money in your case. Also, if they do agree, his kids would be plunged into poverty.

I would seriously consider stopping working around him too and go to a set schedule so you can work.

@Helloyou111 Child benefit isn't anything to do with bedroom tax. Even if he claims for 1 or more child then it doesnt affect the number of children that you need bedrooms for as they still sleep at your house. You would lose out financially though, obviously.

Just to clarify it's CB and not UC you're talking about?

Hi , no he wants to claim universal credit as he said he can apply for grants towards his rent or something

@Copperoliverbear Do you keep a diary of when you have the kids in order to enable his lifestyle? You do say you work around his shifts, but are you picking up extra time with them if he's only having them/feeding them at weekends? I can't see how weekends are 50% of total time? Might be worth keeping a diary to prove you are doing above half the care ie MORE than 50%

How can he claim UC when he earns £45k ?

If you have them exactly 50% of the time each then hes entitled to half of any benefits you receive for them. Just as he should pay for half of their expenses. The fact he has more childcare than you (who I assume pay for some meals for them) or that you had more children with someone else if not his issue.

What rubbish

OP is entitled to whatever benefits she is deemed to need and he can do his own claim and depending on salary may or may not qualify for any benefits.

He is not entitled to any of the benefits that OP claims.

In the OP « even though I have the kids half the time » yet this is the first comment …

OP, as you have the children 50/50 I would discuss him claiming only one DC and you for the other two. You are correct to not include your 4th child in this.
The fact that you can’t work more because you have a baby is nothing to do with your ex I’m afraid. Similarly, the fact that he has childcare has nothing to do with you.

I understand that BUT I’m working around him to suit his working needs and if he does claim then I can’t afford to feed them or do things with them , I’ll have to stop helping him , I’m already taking the children to school on his days because he can’t get to work on time so then it will be HIS issue

No , I won’t be able to work more because he will be claiming for two children that still need childcare if I work more , and I won’t be entitled to get help towards care for them

Why did you have another baby when you where already so skint? Even up your hours to 20 hours a week so you don't get benefit capped and uc will pay 85% of your childcare bill.

My apologies if I misunderstood.
My point was that if he is taking care of 50% of the childcare for hour joint DC then he should be allowed to claim for half of them, rounding it in your favour to him claiming for one child / you claiming for two.

That would make more sense actually thank you , he’s hoping he can get some grant or something towards his rent but I’m unsure if just having one child on his claim would actually make a difference. I don’t want to be awkward, we have a very amicable relationship and always put the girls first but I’m worried they will suffer as a result as I won’t be able to look after them properly

And as you pointed out, if because of his income he wouldn’t actually receive any money it would really be petty for him to do it. Maybe ask him to check how much exactly he would be entitled to - it might be something ridiculous like £10 a month.

Wow . Thanks for a ridiculously rude remark . 👍👍👍
And if you actually read my comments . I can’t claim childcare for children my ex puts on his claim