Child Benefit dispute

Has anyone here every disputed Child Benefit? I am curious what is involved and what we can expect before going through with the motion. Thanks.

IFG,

Soz in advance if this is one of my dense days...what are you disputing re CB? Is CTC relevant?

E

My husband and I are looking into disputing Child Benefit (CTC isn't an issue) as we have his children 50% of the time, and seem to be in a position to apply, but they are so vague on the phone, we want to be more prepared for what it is they are looking for.

I'm not sure there is very much you can do to prepare. If you apply and there is a dispute about who should receive CB there is an investigation into the circumstances and evidence such as where the child is registered at school and doctors etc is collected. Then based on the information an official makes a decision.

Thanks Fiona. The doctors and school are registered with us. We weren;t sure what other information they look for. We hesitate to dispute it without any knowledge of what the criteria are.

Hello IndyFilm Girl - I apologise in advance if I overstep the mark here 'cos obviously you're not giving much info and I'm making some assumptions!

You say that Child Tax Credit isn't an issue. I assume (sorry, not good I know!) that's because you earn over the threshold? What is the mother's financial situation if she is the one with the Child Benefit? I am querying because my stbx is always threatening to contest the Child Benefit and whilst I recognise that he has the children for almost half the time, I am not earning at the moment (on leave with his baby) and am reliant on CTC for survival. His only motive to do this is to make my life difficult, without giving any thought at all to the impact it will have on the children.

As I say, I'm making a lot of assumptions. But I'm suggesting that if it's an 'in principal' decision you're making, please think of the impact it might have on your husband's ex and then the quality of relationship they might be able to have in the future and the impact this will have on the children. If you're living in equal households financially (or she's earning thousands more...) then by all means, go for it!

Hi

Mumtoboys is absolutely right in that CTC are relevant with child benefit. The other factor that is relevant is child maintenance. The person named on the child benefit is entitled to child maintenance from the other parent regardless of respective incomes and regardless of where the children spend more time.

If you do apply for child benefit the benefits agency suspend all payments until they have investigated and resolved the matter.

Another thing to bear in mind is that whilst you can't split child benefit one parent can receive it for one child and the other parent for the other child

S