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Hi
My daughter has issues with her mother, so she comes to mine at the weekends, and also when they fall out. It has now got to the stage where she told here social worker that she wants to sleep at my house 4+ nights per week. But since I work, she would go to her mums for tea.
This week she was ill, so she has stayed there since tuesday. The social worker said that she is drawing up a contract for us all to sign, stating those terms. She also said if we didnt sign, they would go to court to get a residence order in my favour.
I dont pay any maintenance and I dont get any benefits, but I am thinking about going 50/50. I didnt realise how much money this could mean. I earn £14k
El-Cid
Hi El-Cid 🙂
I dont really understand what you are asking, if its about benefits then even if you share residency, the only parent to receive the benefits would be the resident parent, that is the parent that is in receipt of child benefit. If you were to be awarded Residency, then you would be able to claim the child benefit and also child tax credits and working families tax credits. There might also be some assistance with housing benefit and council tax. But without that child benefit in your name, you wont be entitled to any of it.
But the benefits can be split 50/50?
Who would split the benefits? The benefits office wouldnt, they only recognize the resident parent, that is the parent who gets the child benefit.
If the mother is the one who gets the child benefit, unless she's willing to split it and give you half then theres no other way it can be done. The benefit office wont split benefits. The parent with care, the resident parent, is the parent who is paid the child benefit and its in their name and paid into their bank account.
I thought that I had read other wise. If shared care is recognised, then so too should shared benefits. I would be surprised if this has not been brought up before.
...Thats not my understanding, I havent come across an official splitting of benefits, but I'm happy to be proved wrong! 🙂
Perhaps one of the other members will comment!
...Thats not my understanding, I havent come across an official splitting of benefits, but I'm happy to be proved wrong! 🙂
!
I met with my daughter social worker today, to sign a agreement that is meant to be sign by myself, my daughter and my ex. It states that I should my daughter should reside with me, around 6 nights per week. If we dont sign, she said that it should go to court, not sure if she was saying that I should go to court, or whether the social services would take the case forward.
So although I was thinking about 50/50, I may end up with all the benefits,
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx
the above web site says that I would get quite a lot of money on top of my £14K salary.
Nannyjane is correct, the benefits won't be split for shared care. However, if you are going to have residence for 6 nights out of 7, then you would be classed as the resident parent, and you can begin to claim all of the child benefit ( or your ex can agree to pay it to you)
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