tax credit

Hi everyone, hope you`re
C all having a better day than yesterday, if not don`t worry you soon will. am sat here trying to type with the cat attacking my fingers so sorry bout spelling.

Can anyone advise me if i can claim any tax credits for the time that my two sone stay with me under a contact order. I have them from school on fri to school on mon every second weekend and also weds teatime through to thurs school time.
In the holidays i have them extra as well. My partner and i are not very well off and struggle to afford the things teenagers need and any help would be appreciated.
Also as there dad has remarried can i claim my share of the FMH, and how do i do it.

Thanks for any advice

Hi and welcome!

I just happen to have the HM Revenue & Customs Tax credit telephone number on my desk!

Tel: 0845 300 3900

They will ask for your National Insurance Number,and your income. (This is for working tax credits) not sure if you meant child tax credits? maybe call them and they'll refer you to the right dept.

Maybe post back here your result, because we all learn from each others' experiences!

If your talking about child tax credits no you will not be able to claim for having your sons ,only the parent claiming child benefit can claim the child tax credits, if you are paying child maintenance you should get a reduction for having the children for a certain amount of nights per year.

Angel557 wrote:

only the parent claiming child benefit can claim the child tax credits,

I don't know if the system has changed? Eight years ago, I lost the rights to claim Child Benefit. I'd had it for ten years, then on first divorce, our son was 'co-parented' (under a joint-custody agreement) He had a bedroom in each home, and spent equal nights with either me or his dad.

However, Child Benefit didn't recognise 'joint custody' (yr 2000) and accepted my ex's claim to get the CB.

I gave up the will to fight for it, and let it go. However, since he was then perceived as the key-parent, it affected every other claim I tried to make. It affected the address for our sons school, and my ex also changed the childs doctor.... and so on!

Just be warned what you give up, because it could have a Domino effect!