Question for a friend- I said someone here may know 
My friend and her ex share residency of their two children equally. 50/50 Residency. Things are very hostile between them. They each get Child Benefit for one child, so one each.
My friend tried, unsuccessfully, to get both Child Benefits last year. She met most of the criteria that HMRC publish- her address used for school GP etc. However HMRC ruled one child each was fair due to 50/50 Residency.
My friend has been made redundant and needs to claim Housing Benefit. She has a 3 bed house (one girl one boy) and is entitled to HB for a 3 bed but can't because she only has one child's Child Benefit. It's a massive difference in money for her (about £40 a week) and she has no idea how she can make up the rest as no income or savings.
Does anyone know if Child Benefit will take into account her needing the CB for both children to get by and get full
Housing Benefit? Her ex works with a good wage and lives in his own home so claims no Housing Benefit or any other benefits.
She's called the helpline but they don't know and didn't seem to know the criteria for rival claims or whether she's likely to get it.