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Original poster

Tax credits help

26 replies

Userrr927 · 13/04/2022 13:34

Hi, Im currently single and claim tax credits for my 2 children. Due to circumstances I think my daughter will be staying with her father more nights than with myself due to him working from home and being able to drop off and pick up at school whilst I work etc. She will probably stay with him 4 nights a week. I assume I will now not be able to claim tax credits for her as her address will technically be living with her father. How do I go about this? Will this be pretty easy to explain the situation to tax credits?

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 13/04/2022 15:08

@Userrr927

Hi, Im currently single and claim tax credits for my 2 children. Due to circumstances I think my daughter will be staying with her father more nights than with myself due to him working from home and being able to drop off and pick up at school whilst I work etc. She will probably stay with him 4 nights a week. I assume I will now not be able to claim tax credits for her as her address will technically be living with her father. How do I go about this? Will this be pretty easy to explain the situation to tax credits?
I suppose it depends whether your ex claims benefits ? if so will he be wanting to claim for her?
Original poster
Userrr927 · 13/04/2022 15:23

@Babyroobs no he doesn't claim any benefits

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 13/04/2022 15:40

[quote Userrr927]@Babyroobs no he doesn't claim any benefits[/quote]
Probably best to keep it in your claim . I don't think it matters who claims it especially when more or less 50:50 split, especially if she may only temporarily with him more.

Original poster
Userrr927 · 13/04/2022 17:13

The school has advised her address is changed as she is staying there more than my address for school purposes. They said it would need to be her address for likes of child benefit etc also so I assume I'd need to change her address with tax credits also so I thought this would mean I'd then be unable to claim as her official address is no longer with myself

OP posts:
Wowwwww · 13/04/2022 17:17

He will have to put in a claim for child benefit and universal credit ( you can’t make a new claim for tax credit anymore). You will have to amend your claim which if you have another child they might make you switch over to universal too.

Original poster
Userrr927 · 13/04/2022 17:33

@Wowwwww he won't want to claim any benefits. I just wondered if i need to remove her from my claim once her address changes

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 13/04/2022 18:22

[quote Userrr927]@Wowwwww he won't want to claim any benefits. I just wondered if i need to remove her from my claim once her address changes[/quote]
It is up to you who claims. I would just leave the claim as it is. You could ring tax credits and ask. You would not need to switch to UC if she did have to be removed from your claim.

Wowwwww · 13/04/2022 19:34

The main caregiver has to claim the benefits. If it’s split 50/50 you pick who claims. If one parent has the child more then 50% they have to claim the benefit. Can you do 50/50 instead and keep them at your address. You may be asked to move to universal credit and might be better off depends how much you work/earn. I think it is by choice it depends on your circumstances.

Original poster
Userrr927 · 13/04/2022 19:59

I did write a reply but it seems to have not posted..

We want her to attend school near his address due to the fact she's attended nursery within the area and with him working from home he can do more pick ups and drop offs. The school have advised that for that to happen she would need to officially change address so unfortunately I can not keep her at my address even if it is 50/50 which it more or less will be.

I just wondered if I have to do this then would tax credits understand the situation or would it seem off as I know it does seem complicated. Our work commitments and with nursery/school it just seemed the best solution for now.

OP posts:
Wowwwww · 13/04/2022 21:16

I would give them a ring and explain your situation or your local welfare rights they would be able to help you too. I am just unsure with your child being registered at a different address if that would make a difference to your claim.

Keepitonthedownlow · 14/04/2022 08:59

Tell the school to mind their own business and just keep things as they are.

Keepitonthedownlow · 14/04/2022 09:00

Are you doing this to get into a specific school?

Original poster
Userrr927 · 14/04/2022 10:21

@Keepitonthedownlow it wasn't specifically to get into the school but the school she should have went to is within his catchment and not mine. Regardless of school though he will be able to do drop offs and pick ups as he will be working from home and I have different shifts which would mean I would struggle so we thought it would be the best option for her to probably stay more overnights and preferably be at a school nearby

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 14/04/2022 11:02

@Keepitonthedownlow

Tell the school to mind their own business and just keep things as they are.
This.
Original poster
Userrr927 · 14/04/2022 14:08

@Keepitonthedownlow

Tell the school to mind their own business and just keep things as they are.
I could but it would mean having to put her into a school which won't be convenient, I may not be staying close to for long and she won't know anyone else but this might unfortunately need to be the case
OP posts:
iRun2eatCake · 14/04/2022 17:53

Is she at the school already that you want her to attend?

BananaBlue · 15/04/2022 07:08

Is the situation that you are applying to primary school but only dad lives in catchment?

Sch requires child registered at dads as within catchment but your concern is this will stop your tax credit claim?

I guess you have a choice of what’s more important to you, the sch or the tax credits?

How far does dad live? Can he not do pick up from a sch in your catchment?

Original poster
Userrr927 · 15/04/2022 08:34

No she attends the nursery attached to the school so her friends will attend that school and had we not split up that's where we intended on her going.

It's not necessarily that school in particular for any reason other than its next to her dad and her friends will go there and as I've said that's where she was set to go before we split. I'm currently about 25 mins away but it's temporary till I find somewhere better so again that's a reason for wanting her to go to that school. It wouldn't make sense to go to one beside me as it's likely we will move. It's not the reason for the 50/50 though. That's due to him wanting to see her more and him being available to do drop offs etc whereas I have various shifts which would start from 7.30.

Yes I just wanted to confirm that would be the case so I know what I'm doing that's all. I don't want to make any mistakes with tax credits so was just looking for advice but will phone them and explain.

OP posts:
Cocomarine · 15/04/2022 09:20

I don’t think it’s clear from your posts (or to you?) why the school are insisting on his address.
They don’t get to decide that, for tax credits.
But they do get to decide (within a certain framework of exceptions) that they only take catchment area children.
It sounds like the latter.

Morph22010 · 15/04/2022 09:22

@Userrr927

The school has advised her address is changed as she is staying there more than my address for school purposes. They said it would need to be her address for likes of child benefit etc also so I assume I'd need to change her address with tax credits also so I thought this would mean I'd then be unable to claim as her official address is no longer with myself
I wouldn’t have thought the school should be advising on benefits, it’s abit outside their remit. Mort saying they are right or wrong just that they shouldn’t be telling you this
BearPear · 15/04/2022 09:26

I think you’re confusing what the school want with what tax credits want. They aren’t linked. If you continue to get the child benefit for your child and have a shared-care arrangement with your ex then I can’t see that this impacts tax credits at all. If your ex put the child benefit into his name then it’s a different matter and you would probably have to let tax credits know about the change.

RedHelenB · 15/04/2022 13:23

@Keepitonthedownlow

Tell the school to mind their own business and just keep things as they are.
It is the school's business.
Keepitonthedownlow · 15/04/2022 14:00

It's not the school's business who claims child benefit or tax credits. And the DwP won't know what address you've give the school.

Wowwwww · 16/04/2022 16:50

The admission authority when applying for a school place checks the address on the application against the child benefit address.

Keepitonthedownlow · 17/04/2022 12:39

@Wowwwww

The admission authority when applying for a school place checks the address on the application against the child benefit address.
If that's the case then the OP should change the child benefit address temporarily, then change it back.
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