SMI help

samy888

I would like to say thank you to everyone for your amazing advice. I was in despair and didn't know which way to turn. The thought of losing everything was so scary. All your support and advice has been so reassuring and means so much to me.

I've made a list of things to do for Monday solely based on your advice;

1) call the mortgage lender
2) call CAB
3) call CSA

I will sleep a whole lot better tonight.

Thank you so much Muttleythefrog, Caz3121 and kingfisherblue. :T:T:T

bonnie_bumpkins

Hi samy888

Take a deep breath...

I would say:
1. Don't give up your job DEFINITELY!!
2. Stay living in your home and don't even consider moving, renting or selling at this early stage; it is your home and your children's home and for the moment that is how it stays while other issues are sorted
3. Explain the situation to your mortgage lender VERY IMPORTANT
4. If the mortgage is in your husband's name only then I would strongly suggest you get a solicitor and arrange for a charge to be put on the house so it cannot be sold without your permission VERY IMPORTANT
4. Open a claim in your name only for tax credits - working and child
5. Apply for council tax benefit - at the very least you are immediately entitled to 25% discount as you are the only adult living in the house, and hopefully after that you will receive more help
6. As other posters have said, go to the CAB as soon as you possibly can.
7. Some sort of maintenance/finance agreement needs to be put in place as soon as you can - if you can arrange something privately with your husband that would be the best option; otherwise you will need to go down the CSA route or engage a solicitor to help arrange a financial settlement even if neither of you are going to start divorce proceedings at this stage.
8. This may even be the most important point - DON'T SPEND TIME WORRYING ABOUT HOW OTHER PEOPLE WILL DO THEIR JOB, ie arrange for maintenance from your ex. Tell whoever needs to know what the situation is (mortgage, council tax, tax credits office) and let them get on with it. You need to concentrate on yourself and your children.

Excuse the numbering but it's a throwback to a previous job

I was in your situation and I left the 'marital home' with my children; I then realised that the person who stays in the marital home is by far in the strongest position, in every way.

I really hope this helps. Stay strong and ask for help if you need it.

BBx

Muttleythefrog

woodbine wrote: »

the 3.63% ISN`T set annually,it will only change when and if the bank of england advertised average mortgage changes by 0.5%
(this isnt the b of e interest rate btw,but the average mortgage rate they calculate every 3 months)

lol... thanks.. got my words wrong there. Meant to say "universally set annual rate"

Oldernotwiser

samy888 wrote: »

I would like to say thank you to everyone for your amazing advice. I was in despair and didn't know which way to turn. The thought of losing everything was so scary. All your support and advice has been so reassuring and means so much to me.

I've made a list of things to do for Monday solely based on your advice;

1) call the mortgage lender
2) call CAB
3) call CSA

I will sleep a whole lot better tonight.

Thank you so much Muttleythefrog, Caz3121 and kingfisherblue. :T:T:T

If you haven't already done so, you need to contact tax credits immediately to switch to a single claim.

Sixer

OP: as a professional gambler, does your husband even pay income tax? If not, then you are better to try and negotiate a private agreement rather than using CSA, which will take ages and he will be able to manipulate. Remember that the division of assets on a split (ie the house) is an entirely different issue to child maintenance - so don't let him fob you off with "You get the house equity so I don't need to pay".

samy888

Thanks everyone,

Quick update...

I've got a 2 months possibly 3 months mortgage break with the option of changing to interest only after this period.

25% off council tax, whopiee!

Legal advice on the house was, 'under no circumstances should i leave or sell if i can't afford to buy anything else' so that's that.

Overall, i'm a very happy bunny! :j

bonnie_bumpkins

That's excellent news!! Really pleased things are being sorted and hope you feel much more positive and in control. :j
Tax credits next...
Well done.