Hi all, and thanks for reading.
I''ll try and be as brief as possible and if anyone with a greater knowledge than mine can help i''d really appreciate it.
Quite some time back, There was some wrangling between myself and the wife about child benefits etc and after a long drawn out enquiry it was decided that i was in fact the party with more responsibility for them so i was awarded Child tax credits for two of my three girls and CHB for the other and the wife got CHB for the two and Child tax credit for the other..so basically they split it reasonably fairly between us.
I was happy with this decision as it helped us both and enabled us both to provide for the kids which is what its for.
However, the wife was not happy about it and kicked up a stink so there was another brief investigation which stayed with the same outcome as i had provided plenty of proof as to my looking after the kids and they were registered with myself at the home address with the doctors etc.
The wife moved out on Dec 1st into rented accomodation and took the kids with her which led to an almost immediate claim by CSA. They concluded that i was to pay an extortionate amount due to me receiving the tax credits etc and to reduce the amount i had to waive that right.
I did this and since found out that tax credits for children and CHB cannot be classed as income so they duped me into giving it up as i see it.
Now i struggle to get by and its hard when i have the kids on alternate weekends because although the
FMH has sold the proceeds are still tied up with her solicitors until agreement is reached.
I am on a low wage and am only entitled to working tax credit which is a very small help but as im currently at my parents I have nowhere to overnight the kids either so i try to take them out and do fun stuff with them but as everyone is well aware it costs!
My question is can i claim back my CHB and thus be entitled to any chid tax credits?
It worked before and i found it much fairer as we both gained and ultimately the kids benefit from that.
I contacted CHB and explained to them the situation and they said i should have received a letter back in december telling me the benefit would stop. I did not and have received nothing at all so I have asked them to look into it again.
I feel i''m onto a loser as the kids do not live with me anymore yet i feel cheated out of what was a good situation for both parents.
I also dont like the fact that as a father you are automatically assumed to be the guilty party and its so often not the case.
I know lots of people would disagree and tell you that you enter court as equals etc but with respect thats bulls**t.
The one who takes the kids away is the one who has all the rights it would seem and 9 times out of 10 that is the mother. So now through no fault of my own i''m left trying to live and support myself at some point and try to provide a place suitable for my kids to come home to every other weekend, pay all the bills, eat and provide CSA money too...tricky! She on the other hand gets all manner of help toward living costs and housing costs and gets my CSA too...cos she has the kids!!..hmmm still convinced its equal?
Sorry as it wasn''t brief at all in the end and turned into a bit of a rant!!
Phew...and relax..sorry again but if anyone has any helpful input i''m all ears.
Thanks.
I also have an issue with welfare issues if anyone can help..but ill post that as a separate subject!
