Family Law – Welfare Benefits
Cohabiting couples are treated the same way as married couples
Child Benefit
Weekly sum payable in respect of each child or qualifying young person to the person
responsible for maintaining that child or qualifying young person
o A ‘child’ is defined as being someone under 16
o A ‘qualifying young person’ is defined as being someone who is under 20 and still in full-
time education or training
Child benefit is paid irrespective of claimant’s income and is non-taxable
o However, income tax charge apply to a taxpayer whose income exceeds £50,000 pa who
receives child benefit or whose partner receives child benefit
Universal Credit
Means-tested benefit for people of working age
Where claimant is part of a couple (married, civil partner or cohabiting) a joint claim must be
made
Eligibility
To be eligible he must:
Be 18 or over. Some exceptions apply so that those aged 16 or 17 will be able to claim if they
have dependent children
Be under state pension age
Be in Great Britain, have a right to reside and be habitually resident in the UK
Not be in education. Some exceptions apply so that students will be eligible to claim if they have
dependent children
Have accepted a claimant commitment
Not where capital which exceeds £16,000
Amount
Paid monthly in arrears and consists of:
Standard Allowance
Differs depending on whether a claimant is a single person or part of a couple and whether the
claimant is over 25
Cohabiting couples are treated the same way as married couples
Child Benefit
Weekly sum payable in respect of each child or qualifying young person to the person
responsible for maintaining that child or qualifying young person
o A ‘child’ is defined as being someone under 16
o A ‘qualifying young person’ is defined as being someone who is under 20 and still in full-
time education or training
Child benefit is paid irrespective of claimant’s income and is non-taxable
o However, income tax charge apply to a taxpayer whose income exceeds £50,000 pa who
receives child benefit or whose partner receives child benefit
Universal Credit
Means-tested benefit for people of working age
Where claimant is part of a couple (married, civil partner or cohabiting) a joint claim must be
made
Eligibility
To be eligible he must:
Be 18 or over. Some exceptions apply so that those aged 16 or 17 will be able to claim if they
have dependent children
Be under state pension age
Be in Great Britain, have a right to reside and be habitually resident in the UK
Not be in education. Some exceptions apply so that students will be eligible to claim if they have
dependent children
Have accepted a claimant commitment
Not where capital which exceeds £16,000
Amount
Paid monthly in arrears and consists of:
Standard Allowance
Differs depending on whether a claimant is a single person or part of a couple and whether the
claimant is over 25
