divorce and benefits

[natalie89]

Hi my husband has to give his ex wife 20k in June once he's left the Royal Navy, she claims benefits with 2 children and works as a part time cleaner, will she be entitled to benefits still? We r just annoyed at the fact she never has her children they are at there grandma's 5 out of 7 days, I constantly buy them clothes and foot wear as they never have stuff that fit so as soon as we give her it I want to ring hmrc and tell them, but not sure if her money will stop thanks

I'm being polite here.

Tax credits are not affected by savings.

She only needs to declare interest from savings.

Her money won't stop, so you don't need to worry that you would be leaving her and her children without an income.

Hope that helps.

Tax credits aren't affected by savings true, but housing benefit and council tax support are. It's not clear which benefits are being claimed, but these are benefits she's likely to be eligible for as a p/t cleaner. The maximum amount of savings she can have on these benefits is £16k so they would be stopped if she is given the £20k.

It depends what the 20k is for if it's child maintenance then it quite rightly won't affect anything.

Maybe the best thing to do is split the payment into 2 do that it doesn't affect her benefits?

IMO you should be looking to help her retain as much money as possible as it would give your step children the best quality of life whether they stay at their grandmothers or not.

If your boyfriend thinks he is paying over the CMS amounts then he can stop buying clothes and shoes.

No it's not for the children it's all for her and he pays maintenance on top which is £500 a month

That's my point it won't go to the children!!! She's been away last yr to Mexico eygpt Spain Greece all with her new boyfriends and not once took children, so u can't say it's to give the children a better life , u have no idea !!!

And how can I stop buying them stuff when my 2 kids have clean nice clothes that fit, and they turn up with holes in there coat. the son once had a coat with fur on hood, arms and bottom of coat, how can I possibly let them poor kids go out like that z

I don't understand the furry coat.

The bottom line is you can't decide what she spends her money on.

He pays the maintenance due and she decides how to spend it.

I assume the payment of 20k was decided fairly by a court so he will just have to pay it.

No was decided between the 3 of us. And yes it's up to her to her how she spends it just a bot unfair when nothing goes on children, seems like you have been the wife n got money, me to except I never took a penny !!!

I don't understand why it was decided between the 3 of you - what do you have to do with it

If there's no legal agreement to pay her 20 grand why would you?

And your assumptions about me are completely wrong. I've only pointed out if you have a legal agreement you have to pay it.

If you don't have a legal agreement then DONT pay.

If you think the children are being neglected then you could make a report to social services.

I'm not sure why you posted if you didn't want people to comment or give advice - if it's just to rant, go ahead.

If it's spousal maintenance not child maintenance then it will affect means-tested benefits but not tax credits. No point contacting HMRC in that case, you'd have to notify her council who administer housing benefit/council tax support.