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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

Original poster

Am I classed as a single parent?

9 replies

NicolaElize · 20/05/2011 13:19

hi there, bit of a difficult one here but me & my very spiteful ex have just split up & I've kept on the flat that we shared (rented). I'm on last bit of mat leave so not getting paid but did my research and found if I resigned that as a now lone parent i would be able up claim enough benefits to keep a roof over my head & food in our bellies - my ex has just contacted me and basically wished me luck paying my bills and have fun being evicted, as he thinks that having my son 1/2 days a week and me the rest of the time (not that he's seen him once since we split a week ago) counts as me not being a single parent as it's 50/50 - I don't agree but can anyone tell me if on the face if it I am classed as a single parent & can I claim hb, council tax benefit & income support & child tax credit? I would be relying on those until I sort my work out again.
Thanks any help appreciated!

OP posts:
Dropdeadfred · 20/05/2011 13:20

you will still be classed as a single parent

Tortoise · 20/05/2011 13:21

Yes you are a lone/single parent. He is talking crap!

Original poster
NicolaElize · 20/05/2011 13:22

Should mention my son lives with me and will always live with me except when his dad gets his arse in gear and has him on his day off.

OP posts:
WibblyBibble · 20/05/2011 14:07

Your ex is a dickhead. Of course you're a single parent- single is when you aren't living with someone else, not just if they have contact with their child! Otherwise most divorced people wouldn't be 'single parents' as mostly the dad still sees the kids! FFS, he is such a raving nutter Grin, well done for splitting up!

gillybean2 · 20/05/2011 16:39

Even if he had him exactly half the time (ie you each had 7 overnights a fortnight) you'd still be the parent who gets the benefits if you are the one who gets the child benefit.

If he only has him 1 or 2 overnights then all that happens is his maintenance gets reduced by 1 or 2 7ths. Him having ds during the day doesn't count, it has to be an overnight stay to get maintenance reduced.

So when you go back to work you'll get salary, WTC and CTC (if you don't earn over 40K), child benefit and probably help towards your child care costs too as long as it is ofstead registered. You may also get Housing benefit and council tax benefit if you're on a low income.

On top of all that you'll also be entitled to claim maintenance from him to support your ds. If he won't pay or tries to pay less than he should then go to the CSA (but you'll have to nag them a lot). As long as he earns PAYE they'll get money from him. Self Employed is a bit harder but not impossible.

If you're not going back to work then things will be tighter but you will still get council tax benefit and housing benefit as well as income support and child benefit plus whatever he pays in maintenance (which you get to keep all of)

PinkCarBlueCar · 20/05/2011 20:19

Single isn't even just not living with someone else - there are plenty separated couples who still live in the same house whilst finances are sorted / because they can't afford to move out.

So as everyone else has said, you're definitely single.

Original poster
NicolaElize · 21/05/2011 01:39

Thankyou all I feel much better now! For the advice/facts & the cheers :p I know ice definitely done the right thing! X

OP posts:
zippylou · 21/05/2011 20:38

you are a single parent-go to citizens advice and find out exactly what you are entitled to and they will point you in the right direction-some even phone around for you and start the ball rolling! hope you get sorted soon-being a newly single parent is hard enough without spiteful exes stirring things up too!

pickyourbrain · 22/05/2011 14:25

how is 1/2 days out of 7 50/50...? duh.

And yes, even if he had the child half of the time, it is the parent who claims CB that gets everything else as well.

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