Not sure what to do now

Quillion

Hi My friend and her husband have separated. He has gone home to mummy taking the wage and the working tax credits with him and left her with no job and a child to look after.

Where do we start to get things sorted out.

She is living in a council house which is in joint name with her husband.

She has no money and has enough in her purse for Gas and electric then will have nothing left at all. He has said he will give her 20.00 a week for his daughter.

She gets child tax credits of 55.00 per week and child benefit of 20.00 per week into her bank account.

I don't know what to advise her so if someone can point her in the right direction that would be great.

Thanks in advance.

alwaysonthego_2

How old is her child?

Quillion

alwaysonthego wrote: »

How old is her child?

She is 4 5 in January and has just started reception class full time school.

My friend is about to start looking for a part time job now her lo is at school.

alwaysonthego_2

She can make a claim for income support, HB and CTB.

She can keep £20 of her maintainance [if she gets anymore than what he is currently paying].

If she works under 16 hours she can keep £20 of her wages and the rest is deducted from her IS £1 for every £1.

If she works over 16 hours she will be entitled to WTC, CTC, HB and CTB [25% discount for single person] depending on how much she is earning.

Try www.entitledto.co.uk for a rough guide.

Quillion

Thank You always on the go very much appreciated x

Zara33

Quillion wrote: »

Hi My friend and her husband have separated. He has gone home to mummy taking the wage and the working tax credits with him and left her with no job and a child to look after.

Where do we start to get things sorted out.

She is living in a council house which is in joint name with her husband.

She has no money and has enough in her purse for Gas and electric then will have nothing left at all. He has said he will give her 20.00 a week for his daughter.

She gets child tax credits of 55.00 per week and child benefit of 20.00 per week into her bank account.

I don't know what to advise her so if someone can point her in the right direction that would be great.

Thanks in advance.

She will have to inform wtc that she is no longer with her husband, and get the joint claim closed asap!

Stixx

I would also contact the CSA, but that's just me...

alwaysonthego_2

Stixx wrote: »

I would also contact the CSA, but that's just me...

It is advisable that the op's friend tries to come to her own private agreement with her ex, rather than involve the CSA; otherwise it can get too messy which is not good for the child.

Stixx

alwaysonthego wrote: »

It is advisable that the op's friend tries to come to her own private agreement with her ex, rather than involve the CSA; otherwise it can get too messy which is not good for the child.

That maybe so, but the op did say that he has shuffled off and left her with £20 in her purse, not really a nice situation to be in with bills to pay and mouths to feed. There is no harm in contacting the CSA as they then have a record of when he left etc, even if she decides not to pursue it. If they make an agreement together and he stops paying, the CSA can only claim monies from the date of first contact, not the date he left.
Just out of interest, why would getting the CSA involved make it messy? Surely the situation is already rather messy...?

alwaysonthego_2

Stixx wrote: »

That maybe so, but the op did say that he has shuffled off and left her with £20 in her purse, not really a nice situation to be in with bills to pay and mouths to feed. There is no harm in contacting the CSA as they then have a record of when he left etc, even if she decides not to pursue it. If they make an agreement together and he stops paying, the CSA can only claim monies from the date of first contact, not the date he left.
Just out of interest, why would getting the CSA involved make it messy? Surely the situation is already rather messy...?

He has said he will give her 20.00 a week for his daughter.

From the op it looks like there is a private agreement in place this is why I suggested what I did. There is no point in rocking the boat whilst he has agreed to pay the op £20 a week. If this stops and the op has problems then it would be in her best interest to go to the CSA.

Stixx

And then it could be months for her with no money while they process paperwork.. all I'm saying is if she sets the wheels in motion now then at least it is done, and if the worst came to the worst everything is already set up with the CSA. CSA is roughly 15% of earnings for the first child, 20% for the second child etc - £20 a week is not enough imo.

<had a dodgy ex who did it to me, left me with £8 on the kitchen counter, cleaned out the bank account, took the car (including baby seats), and then wanted me to act all grateful when he handed me £60 a month..>