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Hi
I'm recently separated from my wife, and I earn in excess of £60K so haven't claimed child benefit in the past, apart from prior to the change in tax.
I'm now paying for 2 properties etc so trying to get that little bit more cash for my ex to support the kids. Can she claim child benefit, or would I still be penalised and need to pay it back at the end of the tax year. I would be classed as non-resident parent.
Thanks in advance
Hi there
If she meets the criteria for claiming child benefit, as you have separated, she can open a claim in her own right. If she doesn’t work she may also be entitled to other out of work benefits.
Once she claims child benefit though, she would also be entitled to open a claim for child maintenance, which would be calculated on a percentage of your gross income.
Thanks for the info, i've no issue at all re maintenance claims. I'll be paying it anyway.
I don’t know how to ask my own questions on here sorry. My ex is insisting I pay her cash for child support and she obviously hasn’t told the government that she gets this money of me is committing benefit fraud?
@butchdog hi, your in UK? no, child maintenance money has no effect on any benefits that a parent may receive.
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/how-child-maintenance-affects-benefits
I would suggest you stop paying in cash and do bank transfers. that way you have evidence of payments and can cover yourself in event she claims you don't pay.
I agree that you must pay by bank transfer, and quote child maintenance. If she doesn't like it, she can always go to CMS (or you could pre-empt and open the case yourself) in which case you will still pay by bank transfer and there's nothing she can object to.
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