to want my partner to claim tax credits as we'll get a higher rate than if I do?

[Ginni]

We don't live together so by their criteria we are both single parents. DD is always with me currently as i'm on maternity leave, and we spend just over half the week at mine, and the rest at his house. When I return to work we're planning on using a childminder and spending most of the week at his house and weekends at mine for convenience. The form says the main person responsible for dd's care should apply - AIBU to want him to claim as he earns less and we'll get about £7000 more p/a including childcare component? I should clarify he is also dd's biological dad.

My sister separated from her hubby last year but he remained in the house for 6 months whilst he found somewhere to live (seperate rooms etc).
She went to see a solicitor to find out where she stood financially with regard to child support etc and they advised her to contact TC. She did just that and they upped her TC to the maximum because they weren't living as man and wife, i,e, she didnt cook, clean or anything for him, he just resided there. She checked this 3 times with the TC people not wanting to end up with an overpayment and each time she was told the same. Personally i think its crazy! but it was true, she claimed as a single low income parent even though her hubby was still there.