child tax credit, child benefit and maintenance

My partner has been separated from his wife for over a year now. They have 3 children and the children are resident and cared for one week with mother and one week with the father (every other week). They both work and since the separation, the wife has continued to claim the child benefit for all three children as well we think as child tax credit for all three. At the time of separation, there was also a bank account holding child benefit savings which she has only had access to. Husband and wife buy their own clothes for their own homes and spilt costs such as school uniforms, music lessons, haircuts etc. Both care for the children on an equal cost basis plus both of them work full time, however she is claiming extra benefits. How are these benefits looked at when sorting out finances prior to divorce? Any advice greatly welcomed

As far as the CSA would look at child maintenance, the PWC is classed as the parent claiming the Child Benefit. As there is more than 1 child involved your partner could claim for one of the children I guess. Not sure, but I guess the same could be said of the Child Tax Credits. Worth giving both departments a ring to clarify.

Child Benefit :- 0845 302 1444

Child Tax Credits :- 0845 300 3900

Maybe good to post the response you get to help others in the same position.

Hope this has helped.

Sarah

Forgot to say that Child Tax Credits is dependent on Earnings, so if your partner earns more, or you live together and you also work then this maybe a factor in continuing to let the mother receive the payments but look at bringing this payment into the equation.

Sarah

You partner is the prime example of somebody who would be shafted by the CSA because of the discrimination against the PWC (mainly man) and in favour of the one who receives child benefit (mainly women) in shared care arrangements.

Main thing is he is fine about her having it as he earns slightly more, but taking all this into consideration, will mean that she has a larger amount. Just hope that when all finances/monies split that it is taken into account that she is claming all of these before maintenance for children/spousal maintenance is requested.

3 children equates to 20%+ of nett income payable I think.

But how does that work if they share custody and costs every other week?