Ex DP unemployed and wants to claim child benefit in his name. Could this impact in other ways

[NoMoreLimbo]

Hi all. So my ex has been unemployed since spring. Lost the job due to pandemic impacting buisness etc.

It is pretty much a 50-50 arrangement how the DC's spend their time. At his insistence as when we split he was earning loads of ££ and before split he barely saw them. It was a horrid abusive relationship and it took years to break free. Anyhow, fast forward.

I am currently working and am not claiming the child benefit as I have to pay back most of it in taxes. So, of course as he is not working he should claim it as he would be entitled. However, he said he couldn't as there is already a claim in place (guess this is because I claimed it previously in my name and it is now on hold) BUT and it is big one. When I started looking into it to see what I needed to so that he can claim in his name is seems like the person claiming child benefit is automatically granted 'resident parent' status!

I am not happy with the 50/50 arrangement and he is controlling and emotionally blackmailing the DC's and I hope that the arrangement can be altered so that they spend more time with me.

I am concerened that he will also put in a claim for child maintenance despite the 50/50 as I am working and he is not. Any thoughts welcome.

Who is currently classed as the resident parent? I'm assuming that's you? My understanding is that child benefit is only paid to the resident parent.

When I had an UC interview, they very much pushed that to access the child elements of UC you have to have child benefit in your name first He can of course claim the single adult part of UC without... Hard because with 50/50 he won't be getting the income to support the kids and a shared house wouldn't be my idea of an appropriate home for the DC's.

I am still not clear on whether not claiming child benefit would prevent him from claiming universal credit. Anyone??

It doesn't, but he can only claim as a single person and should be looking for work.

Getting CB is stage one of claiming benefits for the children, and then possibly getting maintenance from you.

Don't do it OP

If he wants the benefit to actually provide for his children when they are with him then claim it yourself and give it to him in cash. If you doubt he would spend it on the children then give it to him in supermarket vouchers for food and clothing.

No, a DBS check isn't enough. It's not a safe environment for children in general and the courts don't approve of children doing overnights in shared houses.