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Lone parents

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

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Original poster

Fair child benefit split

46 replies

SurfWaves · 11/01/2022 21:47

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.

OP posts:

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bongobingo43 · 13/01/2022 08:12

[quote dementedpixie]@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.[/quote]
I thought it was £55k but could be wrong (or could be different in Scotland)

dementedpixie · 13/01/2022 08:14

Nope, its £50k it starts from, even in Scotland (I live there)

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 13/01/2022 08:14

If the parents had similar salaries then I'd say they get one childs CB each.

As there is a massive disparity, the decent thing to do is to let the 21k parent get both.

Unless the 21k person is only working part time and could earn more by upping to full time.

bongobingo43 · 13/01/2022 11:49

@dementedpixie

Nope, its £50k it starts from, even in Scotland (I live there)

Sorry! You're right....

Original poster

SurfWaves · 13/01/2022 20:00

@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

My friend doesn't want 50/50 she wants all the CB and she is the one on the higher income

OP posts:

Original poster

SurfWaves · 13/01/2022 20:01

@Totalwasteofpaper

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?

Both do 50% of costs truly

OP posts:

bongobingo43 · 13/01/2022 20:18

My friend doesn't want 50/50 she wants all the CB and she is the one on the higher income
Doesn't seem fair at all. For the sake of the kids probably better if lower earner got it all, failing that I can see why 50/50 would be fair (I wouldn't want to be subsidising my exH because he's on a low income).

I'm interested in your motivation for the thread though. You seem annoyed at your friend and feeling sorry for her exH. Why are you so bothered/invested in their personal finances?

PearPickingPorky · 13/01/2022 20:26

I think it's unlikely costs are truly shared 50/50. How would that even work?

In reality, one parent will be buying the bulk of stuff the children need.

SockFluffInTheBath · 13/01/2022 20:29

Just a thought, does the higher earning parent claiming the cb buy all the uniform, shoes, clothes, swim lessons etc?

SockFluffInTheBath · 13/01/2022 20:29

@PearPickingPorky

I think it's unlikely costs are truly shared 50/50. How would that even work?

In reality, one parent will be buying the bulk of stuff the children need.

I pretty much read your mind

DarkCorner · 13/01/2022 20:36

I think in this situation, the lower earner should claim all the CB and then they could claim UC and other benefits if possible (I think something would be payable on £21k with 2 kids) which the £48K earner wouldn't be able to. And the children have a better standard of living when with the lower earner. It's for the children's benefit at the end of the day. The £21K earner might be better off claiming the CB (in terms of other benefits) even if they paid the CB back to the higher earner! That's a ridiculous situation. Is the higher earner annoyed about the 50/50 split and that's why they won't share it?

Fuuuuuckit · 13/01/2022 20:37

Your friend is a selfish bitch who is being spiteful to her ex and depriving her kids whilst they're at their dad's.

She earns over twice as much as him. He, presumably, is providing a home for the dc as well as apparently paying exactly half of all dc costs.

Yes, on a 50/50 perhaps at most one parent should claim for one dc each. But in this case he should claim for both - which will then enable him to access other in-work benefits, which will give the dc a better standard of living when they're with him. On his salary this could provide a significant increase to his household income - but she is spitting him for £152 a month (when her gross salary is £4k?!?). I'd be massively rethinking my friendship with such a selfish woman.

I'd be interested to know if financial abuse was a cause of their divorce....

Original poster

SurfWaves · 13/01/2022 20:41

@bongobingo43

My friend doesn't want 50/50 she wants all the CB and she is the one on the higher income Doesn't seem fair at all. For the sake of the kids probably better if lower earner got it all, failing that I can see why 50/50 would be fair (I wouldn't want to be subsidising my exH because he's on a low income).

I'm interested in your motivation for the thread though. You seem annoyed at your friend and feeling sorry for her exH. Why are you so bothered/invested in their personal finances?

She asked my opinion and they was offended when I said I thought 50/50 was fair so I'm interested in others opinions.

OP posts:

Itsalmostanaccessory · 13/01/2022 20:44

Tell him to apply for child maintenance. Even with 50/50, he can claim child maintenance. I just ds the calculation and he would get about £50 a week from her (I put in more than 3 nights a week so 50/50).

Gingerkittykat · 13/01/2022 20:46

I think the low earner should claim for both children if it helps them claim childcare costs for the children as it takes the pressure off.

Surely the CB money is just pocket money for the higher earner.

They can put in a claim for CB but the ex would have a chance to contest it.

Danikm151 · 13/01/2022 20:50

If he claims cb he can then claim universal credit towards childcare costs. This is for the benefit of the children.
She’s being quite selfish as her income is higher but I’m betting that she wants to keep the claim as resident parent.

Original poster

SurfWaves · 12/02/2022 21:53

Hi ex has now stripped the access back to one weekend every two weeks and said 'take me to court for more access' ffs 🙄🙄

OP posts:

Original poster

SurfWaves · 12/02/2022 22:31

Her ex seems really distressed about it. She has manipulated him so she can keep the money. I'm seriously questioning this friendship now.

OP posts:

Original poster

SurfWaves · 12/02/2022 22:31

@SurfWaves

Hi ex has now stripped the access back to one weekend every two weeks and said 'take me to court for more access' ffs 🙄🙄

She not ex

OP posts:

BasicDad · 13/02/2022 02:21

DD lives with me, I agreed to ex claiming CB as I earn past threshold. Makes sense.

Chichimcgee · 13/02/2022 02:28

So she earns twice as much.
Wants benefit she doesn’t need.
Children’s dad who pays and does 50% has asked for 50% and has now had access refused.
That’s disgusting.

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