Child benefit

[KMG30]

Hi ladies
I’m a FTM to my twins. They will be 3 months so just about to apply for child benefit
the application is asking if I live with my partner and for his NI. Well this is a tricky one, he is on the tenancy but he is in and out back and forth to his mums and mine as we don’t have a great relationship. I asked him for his NI but he will not give it. Long story. Do I put down that I’m single on the application?
from what I read it is to do with earning over 60k which I know for sure he doesn’t, and something to do with pension credits but I will be the one claiming. He’s on our council tax bill, so can I really not claim without him giving me his NI?

Sounds like the relationship is coming to an end anyway so I'd put single.

If you’re not single you should be, from the sounds of it. Being flakey with tiny twins! I’m furious on your behalf.

If he's on your council tax bill, you could also inform the council that he's moved out, and then you'd get the single person discount and everything would be consistent?

@Preggers101 hiya thanks I was thinking the same. But he is on my tenancy? Does that matter? He does stay with me let’s say 50% of the time. When we moved in our relationship was fine but has gone to shit since having the babies

Is he paying at least half the rent, council tax and other bills at the moment?

@AnotherEmma at the moment he is paying something yes, well I don’t think he wants to lol and I can imagine he won’t soon as he is being shady to pass me over his NI

Is he paying to support his children?

Just submit it without his NI number.
Why have you waited 3 months before applying?

@Parker231 Well he’s happy to get what they need, formula nappies etc but I kinda take charge of the shopping. I pay all the bills from my account and when it comes to rent we both pay, it’s only been two payments since our relationship has gone to shit so not sure what the future holds with it coming to that. Child benefit can only be backdated 3 months it says and the twins will be 3 months in few weeks so just confused wether I should put single or not if he is not handing over his NI

@dementedpixie Exactly, stupid me. My head has just been full through the newborn stage of having the twins lol. Reminded myself yesterday to apply and saw it can only be backdated 3months and then found out he won’t hand over his NI!

If you are on the tenancy together I would put that you are in a relationship and submit without the NI number.

I wouldn't particularly worry about this unless he's earning over the 60K threshold. As that's the only thing that affects your entitlement.
Plus if he won't give it, your going to lose the backpay so just apply as yourself.

Only if his earnings won't affect the entitlement anyway.

But they also need a roof over their head, water and heating is he paying towards this.

@Comeoutside that’s what I was thinking, he deffo doesn’t earn over 60k. So should I just put single and get on with it?

@Lovegame Im paying all bills and he does pay rent as we started the tenancy together so we’ve both just stuck to what we was originally paying . Not sure what’s going to happen in future though as our relationship is breaking down..

@KMG30 do you see yourself as being single soon anyway?
If it's not going to cause a tax issue due to earnings, then if it was me personally I'd just do it as myself but you could give them a call Monday to confirm what they advise for peace of mind. You can't give them information you don't have access to but they probably can access it.

No, don't put that you are single as you aren't

@Comeoutside Yes I can’t see our relationship lasting after all of this, it’ll probably end very soon which means I’ll also have to look at removing him from council tax and tenancy! I just don’t want to miss the 3 month back payment.

@dementedpixie i will give them a call Monday.

"Something"? Is he paying half or not?
I assume you're on maternity leave and getting maternity pay. I also assume his earnings are more than your mat pay (which is often, though not always, the case). If he is not paying his way, kick him out permanently, claim child maintenance and UC.

@AnotherEmma thank you. It will get to that. It’s just that he is on the tenancy, we’ve been here 6 months. Would I just ask the landlord to remove him ? 😣 or will UC accept the tenancy with him on it. I’ve never claimed before as always worked

I doubt they will remove him on your say so
He will have rights to the home too

It depends if you have a fixed term or periodic tenancy. Most ASTs have a one year fixed term although it can be shorter and there is sometimes a 6 month break clause. You'll have to dig out your tenancy agreement and check.

You will actually need to end the joint tenancy and start a new tenancy in your name only. If it's a fixed term tenancy you can only do it if everyone - all tenants and landlord - agree. However, if it's a periodic tenancy, one joint tenant can end the tenancy unilaterally without the agreement of the other.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housingadvice/privaterenting/jointtenancyrelationshipbreakdown

However, if he moves out and stops paying his share of the rent, you can still claim UC for the full rent, even if his name is still on the tenancy.

Sorry, just to clarify this point:
you can still claim UC for the full rent

You won't necessarily get all your rent covered by the housing element of UC. As you're a private tenant it will be limited to the LHA (local housing allowance). You will get the 2 bedroom rate for your area, which you can look up here: https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/search.aspx

@AnotherEmma Thank for sharing this information with me. I will have a look at it all!