Refused single parent child care credit

celticwarrior8

Hi, Just wondering if this is correct??

I have claimed the one parent family allowance for many years so with the recent change it was taken away. I read all the documentation and as far as I can see I still qualify for the new credit:

* I am single and live alone
* I have my child 100 or more days per year

My childs mother is married, she filled out the necessary forms to relinquish the credit, although I understand she was not entitled to it in the first place due to being married.

I received a letter today saying I have been refused, because the mother of my child does not qualify, she cannot relinquish the tax credit and I am not entitled to it.

This seems absolutely wrong. I am still single and caring for a child.

What do you think?

Legend100

Unfortunately (and very unfairly) it is not incorrect.

As the primary carer (the mother) is married, she is not entilted to the credit so there is no credit to be relinquished to you

I think the govt have made a big mistake on the wording of this legislation and, to be honest, it stemmed from widespread abuse of the previous system which has hit genuine claimers under the old rules hard this year

_Kaiser_

All you/we can do is remember it come local election time in a few months when they turn up at the door looking for votes.

Saucy McKetchup

I live with my partner and 2 kids, we are not married, am I entitled to claim this credit, she doesn't work

Citizenpain

No -- you can not be co-habitating

Saucy McKetchup

Citizenpain wrote: »

No -- you can not be co-habitating

So even though I care for the children 365 days a year I'm not entitled to it? And I an only claim tax credits as a single person, what a joke

Citizenpain

yes ; i know - only solution i can see for you is a registry office wedding

Bandana boy

Not really a joke
It is a credit for single parents ,you are not a single parent so why you feel you are entitled to it is a mystery.

Feed me Seymour

Saucy McKetchup wrote: »

So even though I care for the children 365 days a year I'm not entitled to it? And I an only claim tax credits as a single person, what a joke

I care for children 365 days and I only claim tax credits as a single parent even though I'm married. What gives you the right to pay less tax than me because your single? Its people like you that has forced the government to clamp down on genuine single parents.

The original credit was to help single parents when it came to maintaining two homes. I know of genuine dads who have lost this credit and they maintain their own home, not co-habiting.

celticwarrior8

Feed me Seymour wrote: »

I care for children 365 days and I only claim tax credits as a single parent even though I'm married. What gives you the right to pay less tax than me because your single? Its people like you that has forced the government to clamp down on genuine single parents.

The original credit was to help single parents when it came to maintaining two homes. I know of genuine dads who have lost this credit and they maintain their own home, not co-habiting.

Yep, that my exact scenario. A friend of mine will get this because his single ex does not work, yet i am in the exact same personal circumstances but will not get it because my ex is married. bizarre.

Feed me Seymour

celticwarrior8 wrote: »

Yep, that my exact scenario. A friend of mine will get this because his single ex does not work, yet i am in the exact same personal circumstances but will not get it because my ex is married. bizarre.

Too many people shacked up together and both claiming the credit is what caused the govt to take action. I feel for you celticwarrior as I have friends in the exact same boat. Both parents have to have their own car, home, etc. This is what the credit was designed for. Not two people living in the one house sharing costs and comforts but only getting 1650 single persons credit.

Ps, I'm actually married but since me and the missus both work and are on similiar wages, neither of us benefit from the 'magical married credits' that some people moan about.

Saucy McKetchup

Feed me Seymour wrote: »

Its people like you that has forced the government to clamp down on genuine single parents.

Can you elaborate on that please when all I done was ask was I entitled to it?

Feed me Seymour

Saucy McKetchup wrote: »

Can you elaborate on that please when all I done was ask was I entitled to it?

I actually logged back in to reply to your previous comment, which appears to have been deleted. People cohabiting with their partner and claiming to be single parents, in my opinion, are the cause of genuine single dads losing this credit.

Eample: a & b living together - not married - both claiming single parents tax credits on top of their 1650 Paye credit and 1650 single persons credit each. Total credits per household 9900. Next door neighbour, ie me and my wife, only allowed to claim 3300 married credits between us and our 1650 paye credit each. Total per household - 6600.

If your partner is not working, then there is nothing to stop you from getting married in a registry office and then you can receive her 1650 credit, but claiming that you should be entitled to the credit on top of your 3300 basic credits just because your not married is wrong.

Saucy McKetchup

Feed me Seymour wrote: »

I actually logged back in to reply to your previous comment, which appears to have been deleted. People cohabiting with their partner and claiming to be single parents, in my opinion, are the cause of genuine single dads losing this credit.

Eample: a & b living together - not married - both claiming single parents tax credits on top of their 1650 Paye credit and 1650 single persons credit each. Total credits per household 9900. Next door neighbour, ie me and my wife, only allowed to claim 3300 married credits between us and our 1650 paye credit each. Total per household - 6600.

If your partner is not working, then there is nothing to stop you from getting married in a registry office and then you can receive her 1650 credit, but claiming that you should be entitled to the credit on top of your 3300 basic credits just because your not married is wrong.

I think there should be a credit for cohabiting couples like the single parent one where you receive credits for your kids, like I said my partner doesn't claim credits as she doesn't work, I earn all our income and I'm paying through the nose in tax because of this, basically we have less tax credits than a married couple and less than a single person with kids, that's wrong.

Feed me Seymour

Saucy McKetchup wrote: »

I think there should be a credit for cohabiting couples like the single parent one where you receive credits for your kids, like I said my partner doesn't claim credits as she doesn't work, I earn all our income and I'm paying through the nose in tax because of this, basically we have less tax credits than a married couple and less than a single person with kids, that's wrong.

If your partner is not working then I presume you would not have high costs in the form of childcare each week? Married persons who both work, have to pay a fortune each year in childcare costs. Same goes in Genuine single parent cases, where both parents are working and having to split the costs of childcare while also maintaining seperate properties, vehicles, holidays etc. I had three kids outside marriage with my now wife and we never claimed this credit because we were not entitled to it. Ie, we lived together. And by living together we were not single parents. Getting married gave us no extra credits. I'm sure it would have been different if one of us was not working and then upon marriage the other could have received the other halfs 1650 credit, (we do not earn enough to benefit from the extra rate band).

lee1986

hi all just wondering i have my son 3 nights a week an live at home with my mam,i work full time an my childs mother does not work an recieves social welfare payments,can i claim the credit for my son thanks

celticwarrior8

lee1986 wrote: »

hi all just wondering i have my son 3 nights a week an live at home with my mam,i work full time an my childs mother does not work an recieves social welfare payments,can i claim the credit for my son thanks

Yep - you should be fine. You need to have your child's mother fill out the necessary form to relinquish the credit to you, then wait a while and then claim it for yourself.

lee1986

thanks for the reply much appreciated, an just wondering you said wait a while? is that to get a bigger refund? and could it be back dated the past 4 years as his mother hasn't worked or credit would not have bein used thanks

celticwarrior8

Wait a while so they can finish processing the mothers application to relinquish the credit to you. They should back date it, dont know how that works though but should be straightforward. Feel free to share the lump with me :-)

Citizenpain

It was a different credit previously . Available to both parents . See here ...
http://www.revenue.ie/en/tax/it/credits/one-parent-family.html

Cyclepath

Just two pointers on this subject:

1. If you are separated and share custody, only one of the two parents can claim the allowance.

2. The allowance is automatically assigned to the parent that already receives the children's allowance.

The above means that, usually, an employed mother will receive the allowance and an unemployed mother must relinquish her right to it.

2ndcoming

Cyclepath wrote: »

Just two pointers on this subject:

1. If you are separated and share custody, only one of the two parents can claim the allowance.

2. The allowance is automatically assigned to the parent that already receives the children's allowance.

The above means that, usually, an employed mother will receive the allowance and an unemployed mother must relinquish her right to it.

One of the many difficulties that arise though is there is a need for some form of a functioning relationship between the parents for this to happen, the mother in these cases is under no obligation to relinquish it should she choose, whether she has need for the credit or not.

mickyoc85

Ive just logged in to revenue online and it says I don't have this tax credit this year when I had it last year,,as im not the primary carer of my child do I have to submit for the tax credit each year as a result does anyone know??