Nee Advice re Bankruptcy only income State Pension

CH81

This is my first post, looking for help for my Mum really, bear with me, I'll explain;
Mum, Dad and Brother lived in mortgaged ex council house which they bought. Dad left Mum in Oct 09 for a younger model (seriously, same name and looks) anyway, after promises like "Of course I'll pay the Mortgage, I'm not going to see you on the streets" he stopped paying the mortgage, and stopped paying into the joint account which was £2200DR and which my Mum NEVER used. Mum managed to get a private rent on same street beginning of this year, had to ask her son to move out so she could get council tax reduction and had to retire (she's 60) for financial reasons (help with rent and council tax) she then had to go through the humiliation of the friends on the street she's lived on for over 20 years watch her house be re-posessed and her life played out in gossip like a soap opera.
Lots more water under the bridge but the botom line(s) is;
* £13k shortfall on Mortgage which bank has just today written
to her about (she still has personal acc at that bank)
* £2200 from overdraft which bank has since sold on to a
collection company, who write to her constantly threatening
allsorts. They wont take Dad's new address from her due to
Data Protection, so basically he gets no letters, Mum cops for it
* £463 from home improvements which has also been sold on and
same scenario, they wont take Dad's address

Mum gets £131 per week (state pension and pension credit) she has £20 make up to pay on her rent every week (looking into council bungalow) council tax, gas, electric, food...what I'm saying is, she's peppered wish I could help, but not far behind her myself!
Is her best option Bankruptcy? And would it only be her half because I would hate for his portion to be written off as such with Mum's (want him to suffer)

Any advice greatly appreciated x

confused76

hi there and welcome

i think the first thing your mum should do is call one of the free debt charities such as:
www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
www.cccs.co.uk
www.citizensadvice.org.uk

they will look at her situation and tell her basically what options she has.

is your mum getting the correct benefit entitlement? worth a check: www.entitledto.co.uk

if your mum were to go bankrupt, it would cover your mum's individual debts and her responsibility towards the joint debts - eg. they would go after your dad for the full amount

there is some useful information here which explains the process a bit more, but please make sure she takes advice as bankruptcy is a last resort:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1056083

i'm sorry your mum is going through this, those nosey neighbours must lead very boring lives and aren't worth worrying about

take care xx

CH81

Thanks very much for reply, will do some reading up tonight x