HRP & Divorce/Separation: How to Prove the Main Carer & Address History
When households split, HRP decisions still rely on clear proof of who was the main carer, who claimed Child Benefit, and where the child lived. This guide shows how to build a strong annex with dated, bridged evidence — and avoid the most common mistakes.
Why split-household evidence is tricky (and how to simplify it)
After a separation, proving HRP for any tax year (6 April–5 April) requires tying together three things:
• Who was the main carer
• Who was the Child Benefit claimant
• Where the child actually lived
The fastest route is a tight annex plus legible, dated exhibits — with name and address bridges where needed.
Start with the core question: who was the main carer?
Practical markers that support main carer status include:
• School: admissions, attendance, letters, appointment notices
• GP/health: registrations or letters naming the coordinating parent
• Everyday reality: consent forms, transport, meetings, day-to-day care
If care changed during a year, note the month and explain why.
Child Benefit after separation
Establish who the CB claimant was across time:
• CB award/renewal letters naming the claimant
• HMRC CB letters confirming the claimant
• Bank letters referencing CB payments
If CB changed hands mid-year, record the effective month and include both sides if possible.
Address history timeline (month-by-month)
Create a month-by-month timeline from the separation until addresses stabilise. Useful items:
• Council tax bills
• Tenancy or mortgage agreements
• Utility or bank statements
The aim is to clearly link the parent and child to the same address for the period you claim as main carer.
Build the annex (one line per tax year)
The annex is the decision engine. Use evidence codes:
• A-series = Child Benefit evidence
• B-series = care/medical/school links
• C-series = identity & address bridges
Example annex rows
• 1998–99: Child Benefit — Parent A — Main Carer: Yes — Evidence: A1, C3
• 1999–00: Child Benefit — Parent A — Main Carer: Yes — Evidence: A2, C3
• 2000–01: Carer basis — Main Carer: Yes — Evidence: B3, C3
• 2001–02: Child Benefit — Parent B — Main Carer: No — Evidence: A1, C4
Evidence you can use (with bridging)
Child Benefit
• A1: CB award/renewal letters
• A2: Bank references to CB
• A3: HMRC CB letters
Main carer / care context
• GP notes
• School letters, attendance reports
• Appointment notices
Address linkage (C-series)
• Council tax
• Tenancy or mortgage agreements
• Utility or bank statements
Where a document lacks a visible date, bridge it with a dated partner item at the same address.
Cover note template (split households)
“This request asks for HRP to be recorded for the years listed in the annex following a relationship breakdown on [month/year]. From [month/year] to [month/year], [Parent A] was the main carer. Child Benefit was in [name]’s name until [month/year], then in [name]’s name. A-series evidence shows CB; B-series shows school/GP links; C-series bridges address and name changes. All items are dated or bridged to the relevant tax years.”
Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them)
• Unclear main-carer periods: add school/GP letters tied to dates
• Gaps in address linkage: pair council tax with bank/utility for same months
• CB changed mid-year: note the exact month
• No annex: slows decisions
• Name/address not bridged: use marriage certificates, deed polls, council tax
FAQs
1. If both parents cared, who gets HRP?
• HRP goes to the main carer for the relevant period. If care switched, split the years and evidence the change.
2. We can’t find the CB award for a year—what then?
• Use bank references, HMRC letters, and address bridges showing where the child lived.
3. Are court or consent orders required?
• Not required in every case, but they can support the residence timeline.