Astounded that this is actually legal

[movingthemountains]

A friend of mine has 4 children, 1 with her ex partner from years ago and 3 with her husband. They have been separated for a year and plan to divorce eventually. He moved out of their rental property and now lives with his mum. He doesn’t work, never has really, apart from the odd job here and then over the years but it’s never lasted. She works part time, 2 days a week. They share the kids 50/50 and it’s all amicable.

Due to the two child benefit cap, which applies since the youngest 2,were born after 2017, they are unable to claim for all 4 kids simultaneously. As a result, they each claim benefits for 2 kids instead.
He receives between £900-£1000, a substantial amount considering he has no rent or bills to cover. It’s wild that they can pull this off, but if they were living together, it wouldn’t be possible.

AIBU to feel shocked by this?

Additionally, before anyone suggests that this is just a bait (generally how these threads go), friends do talk, you know!

They are claiming for different kids and are both 50/50 parents so I don't see any issue personally?

Its the sort of situation that the two child rule positively encourages

So are this still together but pretending not to be ?

All four kids belong to both of them.

No, one of them is with the friend’s ex.

It's per household, isn't it, rather than per mother? So the mother claims for the eldest two, and the father claims for the youngest two. Because they are separated and the 3 younger children have two equal homes, they each can claim per household.

I know someone who has never lived with her partner, both claimed benefits, went into have 4 kids all live with mum but both parties claim as much as they can as single households

its a joke

It's legal but if you don't agree with it you can always campaign for a change in the law.

Absolutely ridiculous, government needs to close this loophole.

He receives between £900-£1000, a substantial amount considering he has no rent or bills to cover.

Why would he have no bills? He’s living with someone who doesn’t charge him rent and therefore saves on housing benefit, all other bills will still need to be paid.

They are certainly no longer in a relationship, and everything is above board. I’m not doubting the legality of the situation (apologies if it came across that way), I know it is legal. I’m just taken aback, as it seems there is a clear loophole in the system since they wouldn’t be eligible for the extra funds if they were still together. To be fair, she does work, but he has no intention of finding a job, and honestly, why would he when he receives almost £1000 from the state with no bills to cover? That sum is half of my monthly income, and I work full time. Crazy.

But the state has to support them as a two household family because that's what they are. If he is claiming UC for them then he will be expected to work unless medically exempt.

Four kids should get child benefit for four kids. Doesn’t matter what the adults do. That’s why the cap is wrong.

The worse thing about this story is that someone decided to have three kids with this loser.

@jewelcasesurely you’re not suggesting that people should have loads of kids with no means of supporting them? Where is all that money suppose to come from?

Why does the state HAVE to support them @TheWonderhorse? Maybe he should get off his arse and get a job and support his own kids.

@Kendodd yes I agree, he’s a lazy waste of space imo

@TheWonderhorse he’s not medically exempt. Apparently he tells UC that he’s applied for jobs but that he’s been unsuccessful and that’s it, basically. He doesn’t want to work.

Ok we can all agree he's a waste of space but the children still need to eat and those are the levels of support that the government set. Who would you want to starve and leave penniless?

It does feel a bit of a ridiculous loophole I agree, but unless one of the children is very young, disabled or he himself is medically exempt, he will be expected to look for work and will be sanctioned accordingly if he isn’t, they are really quite strict on this, it’s not enough to just say “I tried” so he won’t be getting a free ride forever

Although people should be encouraged to work for all sorts of reasons, not least their own mental health, having children in this country is a societal good.

if they are raised decently the £100k odd the state has donated will be more than repaid in tax in their lifetime, assuming they are well brought up and educated.

We either ‘make’ people or ‘import’ people from abroad; there is no other solution to our demographics.

So, although my initial reaction to 4 children being supported by the state is disbelief, that isn’t correct economically. Of course, that doesn’t apply to generations all living on benefits.

The cap is stupid so I’m ok with loopholes being exploited.

Good luck to them - it's not illegal and kids need to eat. Mind your own business.

Yes doesnt encourage couples to stay together.
Ahould reallt be same mum/parents can only claim uc for 2.

Child benefit isnt capped they get that for all 4 anyway.

Does it revert to next child down in age when oldest is too old?

Bonkers that between two adults with 4 kids they can only manage two days a week work. Don’t over do it mind will you!? Jesus.