Child benefit first application

[mynamechangemyrules]

Hi, I've returned to the uk after a grim divorce and need to apply for Child benefit etc quite quickly. The form is asking me to send all children's birth certs and passports as they were born out of the uk (they have mirror birth certs and uk passports as they are uk citizens). It says it will take up to 5 weeks to return them!
I need them for schools/ house rental etc etc and also after the nerve wracking few months I've had trying to leave in a bloody pandemic, I don't really want to send all my vital docs off in an envelope!!
Can I go in somewhere and do this with someone in person or is sending off a form the only option?

I'm also interested in whether I'd get any other government support. I will be able to get a job pretty soon I hope but as I'm a teacher i won't be paid for at least another month. Where can I get advice on this?

Sorry mumsnetters but I'm goi g round in circles on the Govt website...

Thank you

Unless you are returning from an EU/EEA country or were abroad for armed services or Government, you may find you cannot claim benefits immediately. Can you get certified copies of birth certificates, although not sure you need it for schools.

I have everything certified but the gov website says they need the originals...
They've said processing will be slower as British nationals returning from overseas. (It's outside Europe)
I suppose I prob don't need the documents but am still paranoid about sending them all off to one place at once 🤪😂

I would send them recorded delivery OP.

Try one of the online benefits calculators such as entitledto.co.uk. have you secured employment for September or not? As thay will likely make a difference. Are any of the kids under 3?

You can order copies of birth certificates online via the government website.

Would schools accept a photocopy of the passports if they were accompanied by an actual birth certificate? It might be worth asking them.

You will need to pass the "Habitual Residence Test"
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/british-and-irish-citizens-claiming-benefits/

As for the documents, send them recorded delivery ("signed for") and also enclose an envelope with your name and address and a prepaid stamp for it to be returned via recorded delivered (signed for) as well. That should ensure they get back to you ASAP.

Do you have more than one copy of each birth certificate? If not it would probably be worth getting at least one more of each.

To be entitled to benefits you have to be "habitually resident" in the UK and habitual residence is not defined in regulations. There is a huge raft of case law on this, and as we have an expert in it on our team, I always defer to him on habitual residence matters.

It would definitely help to establish habitual residence if you have copies of your divorce paperwork etc to show that you have effectivley severed ties with the country you were living in. As would having a job, a house (tenancy agreement will help), kids in schools here, being registered with a GP etc.

If you have had a divorce settlement and it is in excess of £16k, you won't be entitled to any means-tested benefits unless you can satisfy the DWP that it is earmarked for the purchase of a home.

Thanks fir your answers! I'll look into habituated residence requirements. I have just started to rent a home and all kids will start in schools in a couple of weeks.

There was no money settled to me, it's quite a misogynistic place and I was entitled to nothing but the kids and my own savings.

I don't believe I can get copies of the birth certs from the uk Govt if they weren't born here.
I have applied in the country they were born in but will need someone there to help facilitate this and it will likely be slow. Will get cracking on that before I send anything.

Thanks fir the guidance!