UC when not being the main carer nor recipient of CB in a 50/50 arrangement

[Needadoughnut]

My exH and I only have an informal arrangement regarding our 50/50. He receives CB (as it was convenient at the time) but he's refusing to pass it on to me so I can claim UC. There's no clear primary carer as our DD is registered at both addresses for school, mine at the GPs and his at the dentist. I've called different organisations (like CAB and turn2us) and they both said I need CB to claim UC. Working families doesn't think so and is looking into it. Any words of advice?

Who earns the least? You can put your own claim in for CB and if the 2 of you can't decide who gets it then the child benefit people will decide for you

It's me. I make around 18k he's a lot higher. I don't know if they'd take joint incomes into account. For tax credits they were satisfied with a letter I sent but obviously he doesn't want to give it to me as he's accusing me of just wanting to play the system

I spoke to someone this week who said she got the child element of UC without CB as it was a 50/50 split. Part of the problem is UC is still relatively new (in many areas) so no-one has much experience of slightly more unusual situations yet. You could always apply for UC and explain the situation to them and see what they say. Then as above if you are told you need the CB to get the child element then you could apply for CB and get them to decide which of you should get it.

If you're earning £18k and he ''a lot higher'' then with a 50/50 arrangement between you, you can comfortably afford to bring up DD without relying on the taxpayer.