Can child benefit payments be spent for other than one’s children?
The question, as received
Firstly, I want to thank you for you serving our community, may Allah increase you in your Ilm, effort & sacrifice and grant you Jannatul firdaus.
Secondly, Mufti saheb we would really appreciate it if you could please give us a more detailed answer to the second part of the question:
“who is the owner of child benefit payments?”
This is a question that effect very large number of muslims in the west. Are the parents the complete owner of the money? Do they have the freedom to spend it on other things like household items that are not directly related to the child itself? Could the money be used to pay of debts that the parents have, etc.
Jazakallahu for you service
The answer
As a principle, it is compulsory upon the father to financially maintain his young children.[1] Their needs such as clothing, food, living expenses etc must be catered for by the father. This maintenance can be sourced from one’s salary, child benefit payments or any other allowance one acquires ownership of.
Condition: Surplus may be used for other purposes once the children's needs are met.
Explanation
Child benefit (or family allowance, children’s allowance) is a social security payment disbursed to the parents or guardians of children. Child benefit payments are transferred into the ownership of the parent/guardian of the child and not the child. The parent is given ownership and possession of the child benefit to spend in the best interests of the child.2
As long as the child’s needs and necessities are fulfilled financially, any remaining funds in one’s ownership regardless of the source can be used for any other purpose.3
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Faraz Adam
References
1نَفَقَةُ الْأَوْلَادِ الصِّغَارِ عَلَى الْأَبِ لَا يُشَارِكُهُ فِيهَا أَحَدٌ كَذَا فِي الْجَوْهَرَةِ النَّيِّرَةِ (الفتاوى الهندية ج 1 ص 557 الرشيدية)
(وَتَجِبُ) النَّفَقَةُ بِأَنْوَاعِهَا عَلَى الْحُرِّ (لِطِفْلِهِ) يَعُمُّ الْأُنْثَى وَالْجَمْعَ (الْفَقِيرِ) (الدر المختار ج 3 ص 612 أيج أيم سعيد)
(قَوْلُهُ بِأَنْوَاعِهَا) مِنْ الطَّعَامِ وَالْكُسْوَةِ وَالسُّكْنَى، وَلَمْ أَرَ مَنْ ذَكَرَ هُنَا أُجْرَةَ الطَّبِيبِ وَثَمَنَ الْأَدْوِيَةِ، وَإِنَّمَا ذَكَرُوا عَدَمَ الْوُجُوبِ لِلزَّوْجَةِ، نَعَمْ صَرَّحُوا بِأَنَّ الْأَبَ إذَا كَانَ مَرِيضًا أَوْ بِهِ زَمَانَةٌ يَحْتَاجُ إلَى الْخِدْمَةِ فَعَلَى ابْنِهِ خَادِمُهُ وَكَذَلِكَ الِابْنُ (رد المحتار ج 3 ص 612 أيج أيم سعيد)
خير الفتاوى ج 6 ص 145 مكتبة إمدادية
2https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/child
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/start/who-qualifies/what-is-childbenefit.htm
3كُلٌّ يَتَصَرَّفُ فِي مِلْكِهِ كَيْفَمَا شَاءَ (المجلة ص 230 نور محمد، كارخانه تجارتِ كتب)
Based on the Hanafi school and on the question as it was asked. Another mufti may reach a different conclusion. Read the disclaimer.