Fair child benefit split

[SurfWaves]

Both parents have 50/50 care.
One earns £21,000 other earns £48,000 pa
Two kids
Should one parent claim for one and one claim for the other and neither claim CMS?
Or the parent that earns £48,000 get child benefit for both regardless.

Given the 48k one is very close to the tax limit surely it would make sense for the 21k to get then split or just the 21k to get?

50/50 care would be no CM

Surely the parent earning £21000 should have the child benefit and they should also apply for child tax credit.

Surely if 50/50 shared care no maintenance is paid. So it’s only child benefit, either each parent claims for 1 child each (might be an issue when oldest stops being entitled to it), or 1 parent claims for both and it is shared or agreed to save or put towards child needs.?

Whoever has the children most should get the child benefit. Is that the lower earner?

Sorry didn't read properly; it's 50/50 care
Lower earner then probably

@dementedpixie

Whoever has the children most should get the child benefit. Is that the lower earner?

No it's a true 50/50 split, and at the moment the higher earner gets both kids CB

It would be more equitable for the Lower earner to claim it

@Ilovethewild

Surely if 50/50 shared care no maintenance is paid. So it’s only child benefit, either each parent claims for 1 child each (might be an issue when oldest stops being entitled to it), or 1 parent claims for both and it is shared or agreed to save or put towards child needs.?

If only one parent claims then there's no universal credit for the other parent I believe. This is a friend of mine, she is the higher earner. He ex has the kids week on/ week off and has asked to claim for one of the kids to help with childcare costs. My friend has said no but I personally feel this is unfair.

I think it would also depend on who’s paying majority of costs, so they are living 50 50 but are all costs like clothes, school costs etc split 50 50

@Wfhquery

I think it would also depend on who’s paying majority of costs, so they are living 50 50 but are all costs like clothes, school costs etc split 50 50

Yes all is split 50/50

If only one of you claims, why in earth would the higher earner do so??

Do you both home own? You need proof of CB for social housing

@SleepingStandingUp

If only one of you claims, why in earth would the higher earner do so??

Do you both home own? You need proof of CB for social housing

It's not me it's a friend of mine and her ex partner.

It’s much harder keep home and 2 kids on basic £21000 than £48000. Of course lower earner should get. Unless higher earning enjoys that half the week the children have much lower standard of living, food and basics like heating.

That is terrible difference to each persons quality of life. If the lower earner was to get the child benefit this is a gateway to universal credit. And having any childcare cost covered. Surely both would want the children to have as good quality of life as possible.

This out come would benefit both parties surely if child care costs could be claimed.

I know her ex really struggles with childcare etc during his weeks, it just seems so unfair.

Tbh I can understand your friends argument that if all costs and all childcare are split 50/50, it would only be fair for child benefit to be the same. Why should she lose out on 50% of the child benefit because her exH is a low earner?

HOWEVER, that's not a very child centric view as surely she would want her dc to have a better quality of life when with their dad.

HOWEVER, where does that then stop? Would
You expect her to give her exH a proportion of her salary to make both household the dc live in more equal? By expecting her to give 100% of the child benefit to her ex, you're effectively asking her to give him a portion of her income and continue to pay 50% of everything

Don't think there's an easy answer tbh and I can see both sides

It is really a true 50/50 spilt?

Which earner is buying uniforms and sorting out classmates birthday gifts and all the other random crap?

@bongobingo43

Tbh I can understand your friends argument that if all costs and all childcare are split 50/50, it would only be fair for child benefit to be the same. Why should she lose out on 50% of the child benefit because her exH is a low earner?

HOWEVER, that's not a very child centric view as surely she would want her dc to have a better quality of life when with their dad.

HOWEVER, where does that then stop? Would
You expect her to give her exH a proportion of her salary to make both household the dc live in more equal? By expecting her to give 100% of the child benefit to her ex, you're effectively asking her to give him a portion of her income and continue to pay 50% of everything

Don't think there's an easy answer tbh and I can see both sides

But friend is claiming 100% of the child benefit - all the partner has asked for is to be able to claim for 1 child. This is the easy answer to my mind, and would lead to them getting 50% each

Slight hijack- is it a British thing that 50/50 even if one earns significantly more there is no CSM? I have a 60/40 split (I'm the 60) and had to pay child support when I was the higher earner to the other parent, as they base it on need to maintain a similar lifestyle. We also get a percentage of child benefit each, proportional to our care percentage. Not in UK myself

But friend is claiming 100% of the child benefit - all the partner has asked for is to be able to claim for 1 child. This is the easy answer to my mind, and would lead to them getting 50% each

Yes, completely agree.
I was replying to those saying the lower earner should get it all

@Quartz2208

Given the 48k one is very close to the tax limit surely it would make sense for the 21k to get then split or just the 21k to get?

50/50 care would be no CM

They're £7k away from it so they can have at least another £500 per month before being at the limit.

@bongobingo43 How do you get it as £7k away from paying anything back?

Once you go over £50k a proportion needs paying back and by the time you reach £60k it would all need to be paid back.

Why should she lose out on 50% of the child benefit because her exH is a low earner?

Because she earns twice as much as he does! Why do you think she should have all of it?

Where there is a significant difference in income in a 50/50 situation the CB should be claimed by the parent who is the lower earner.

@SoupDragon

Why should she lose out on 50% of the child benefit because her exH is a low earner?

Because she earns twice as much as he does! Why do you think she should have all of it?

I don't think she should have it all. I think it should be 50/50. She shouldn't sacrifice income because her ex is a lie earner.

You've also only copied part of my post. I was saying in terms of ensuring a fair split but she may want to let her ex claim the full amount for the sake of her children having a better lifestyle at their dads