I am feeling lost and confused. My husband has left me.

Jowo_2

Look at the LHA direct website as this will tell you your bedroom entitlement and maximum LHA (Local Housing Allowance, i.e. housing benefit).

Work your way through the Turn2us website to find out all your benefit entitlements. This will help you to determine if there's a shortfall between the rent payable to your landlord and housing benefit that you receive for it.

Download the budget planner on this website to help you get to grips with your income/expenses.

Is the tenancy agreement in joint names or your partner's sole name?

jak

Good luck hun. This happened to me a year and a half ago. THe lone parent people at the jobcentre where I am are really nice. Phone your local jobcentre and say, 'I am now a lone parent and I don't know what to do'! They will go through your claim on the phone with you then ask you to come in for an interview. It is not at all scary and they will do all the paper work for you and help you figure out your bills and stuff.
I know how hard it is so if you fancy a chat feel free to pm me. Also chin up, you are in shock now but I promise it will get better xxx

jak

Also a brill website to figure out stuff: Google entitledto.com
It will tell you what you should get so you can get an idea instead of being sat there worried about it all night x

gatita

Just wanted to say my heart goes out to you, must be a dreadful situation to be in.
Do follow the good advice on here, and claim A.S.A.P. Good luck and be strong.

Oh yes, and just ignore tod123, if he had a brain cell he would be dangerous!

debtmess

OP x dry your eyes x i was where you are nearly 4 years ago it does get better (i promise)

contact the job centre in the morning x they will send you out forms for income support, ctc and hb and make you an appointment with them to go through everything x it does take a few weeks to get the claims through, but it does all come together, you can start to fill the forms out but the job centre staff can help/will help you.

you will need to ring tax credits to let them know, they will end a joint claim and you will need to start a new one on your own

if your child benifit is paid monthly you can ring and ask if you can go on weekly payments (this kept me going for the time we had no other income, it provided food/nappies for my children ) the bills etc can wait for now.

ive probably just echo'd what has already been said x if you need an ear pm me

beckseven

Can't offer you any advice as other posters have given you excellent advice(except one!) but couldn't just read and run. Good luck and I hope everything works out ok for you and your little ones.

1sue23

tod123 wrote: »

have you considered a job?

Do you have any compassion or empathy for your fellow human beings ?:(

gatita

1sue23 wrote: »

Do you have any compassion or empathy for your fellow human beings ?:(

I don't think he/she has a clue what compassion or empathy means!
Not to worry, what goes around comes around!!

headoutthesand

chin up mrs. As others have said, it does get easier(and better).

Speak to your health visitor too. They can assist with getting your wee ones into nursery as soon as they turn 3. They can also provide a shoulder to cry on andput you in contact with toddler groups to give you a change of company etc. They can also advise you on milk vouchers etc to help with food shopping.

Contact CSA asap as the rules for payment have changed. They used to calculate payments from the date you contact them but now its from the date that they make contact with the absent parent.

there is sooooo much help out there, you just need a point in the right direction

susan1105

I know at the moment it all seems hopeless but trust me it does get better just take each day as it comes, plan small treats every so often for your self and if you can make sure that between you and the dad that you come up with a good routine for the children, you do need your own time with out them. Its hard work having three mine were older DS1 was 7 and twins were just turning three.

I hope you have someone you can ring and moan to PM me if you want to rant at someone

Susan