Ctc is this possible?

[Anothernamechangedforthis]

I'm thinking of cancelling my child tax credits so my ex can claim. I'll be phoning them Monday but thought the wise owls at mumsnet might have some advice.

My ex and I split up in 2016, we have shared care approx 70/30, I pay for all uniforms, clothes for mine and his house, school trips etc and recieve no maintenance. I have been claiming both child benefit and ctc since then. I am now financially secure enough to not claim although am still entitled.

As only one household can claim, can I cancel my ctc claim while keeping the child benefit, allowing my ex to claim ctc if he so wishes without any backlash to me from hrmc?

I am concerned they will backdate his and want me to pay back mine, or decide I didn't actually have my children for the 2 years I claimed forcing me to find proof I did.

Is his income such that he would be eligible to claim ?

It should be the parent who the children mainly reside with who claims the tax credits and CB. Is there anything stopping you claiming it and just giving it to your ex?

He'd be entitled to more than I am.

I don't think he'd want me to just give it to him, he'd see that as a handout from me and wouldn't appreciate it.

Communication is still difficult and although he struggles financially he won't accept help from me.

I thought it went to the person who claimed the Child Benefit

My DDs dad and I did this - I kept CB and he had tax credits for a while - then we swapped back again when our household incomes altered.

Not sure if UC will work the same way - don't see why not though.

Thank you all for the replies especially BlueSkyandSunshineToday for letting me know it can be done. As far as I know we're not a uc area at the moment. Just have to speak to hrmc and ensure I don't get a negative outcome for myself.

Does he have the children reside with him more than you ?

If you don't need the money why not put it into a savings account for the children's university or house purchase for the future?

No I have them more, and they already have savings accounts.

I'm likely to inherit later in life although I'm not banking on it where he has no chance of an inheritance and from what I know struggles financially at the end of the month. Whereas I am by no means wealthy or I wouldn't be able to claim but am more comfortable than I've ever been and have a very little savings pot of my own and parents to rely on if it all goes wrong.

They are both supposed to go to the main carer. You are VERY unlikely to get investigated but it does look like its against the rules.

lostherenow that's what I was afraid of, I will phone them and ask as I don't want to do anything wrong. If they say it's not OK then I'll just cancel it as I don't need it for now and re-evaluate it if the need arises.