Hubby walked out; I'm left with 3 children

Floxxie

I'm hoping someone will be able to point me in the correct direction. A few days ago my husband walked out on me and three children. Part of the reason is the enormous overdraft that we have (part of an offset mortgage).

Anyway I am a SAHM who earns approx. £200 a year from employed/self-employed work. Today I informed tax credits of my new status.

Ex is putting his salary into the joint mortgage account for the next three months. I cannot and will not touch this as it covers the bills and the few pounds left over will cover a bit of the overdraft interest.

Is there anything else I could claim for? Two out of the three are at school.

TIA

DX2

So getting £200 per year doesn't qualify you for working tax credits as I suspect you aren't working 16 hours per week with that salary.

You need to apply for:
Income support (you need to tell them about him paying the bills and the money you earn)
Child tax credits
Council tax benefit
Free school meals
Child support (as he is paying the mortgage you might be better leaving this as it is)

Jowo_2

Are you on the deeds/mortgage as a joint owner? Is the 3rd child at college or working?

Go and see a solicitor to understand your rights and his responsibilities which don't just terminate after 3 months of support like your husband has indicated.

See the advice on the Shelter website to struggling homeowners on how to stave off repossession, deal with mortgage arrears and the govt schemes that are available to homeowners. They have a section on relationship breakdowns which could give some basic pointers about your housing status in the eyes of the law.

There is a child support forum on this website where you can post and find out his responsibilities in that respect.

There is also a Debt Free wanabee forum there where you can seek advice on financial problems. They encourage people to post a statement of accounts to detail their income and outgoings so they can advise how to improve the budget and deal with debts.

Enter your details into the Turn2us (Entitled to) website which is a benefits calculator.

RAS

Hi

In whose name is the Child benefit?

1. Get yourself a new basic bank account in your own name immediately. If you get the CB, pay that in the new account and use it for all the other benefits - could be three months to sort them out.

2. Monitor that joint accont like a hawk. Legally, you are liable for the whole of he debt, as is he. Either of you can add substantially to it and the other is liable. Very dangerous.

Any other joint accounts?

Floxxie

Thank you for the responses. I have my own bank account which my child benefit and tax credits are paid into. And no I am definitely not working 16 hours a week.

The children are all under 10.

As you rightly point out we are jointly responsible for the debt and the mortgage.

I am going to sort out the benefit side (thank you for the info) and then take advice on how to manage the mortgage/debt going forward.

Thank you for your input.

denton6

good luck, x