Complicated doesn't cut it

Muttleythefrog

Night_and_Day wrote: »

What happened to you Muttley, if you don't mind me asking? (no probs if you'd rather not say)

Nothing..lol... apart from finishing work for good through ill health... but nothing in relation to investigation. I had slightly above the minimum 6k threshold and made a capital repayment of a few thousand. This resulted in me getting signficantly less Support for Mortgage Interest than I was going to get but only a minor amount more for other benefits. I continue to make overpayments to mortgage which continues to reduce the benefits I get..lol.

nannytone_2

i know it'd be nice to be able to build up a nest egg for your kids in the future .....

but you have to see it from the other point of view too.

its all well and good your kids having the money when theyre older, but in return you want the state to pay to raise them for you.

and i agree with cornish. it may well be all amicable now, but when, at some point in the future it isnt, you'll be in exactly the same position you are in now.

Night_and_Day

Cornish_piskie wrote: »

Hi OP - it's nice to hear about an amicable split but I'm going to slightly put the cat amongst the pigeons here:o What happens when you meet someone new - is your ex-hubby still going to be cheerful about paying the mortgage on the home you are living in? It's all very 'easy' just using one of the houses to live in and I can see entirely why you are doing it but I can see resentment down the line. Personally, I would think a proper division of assets and then sorting out living arrangements from there. It is far better to make clean breaks on financial matters, you will always have the bond of your children

Hi there A valid point, what if I meet a new partner. Thing is I know for certain that won't happen; not easy to explain why on here, but it's not a possibility. Ex-hubby and I have agreed to ringfence our existing assets should any new partner come along, which is a risk I am willing to take. Solicitors always assume the worst when they try to protect you, but my ex is a decent guy who does love his kids and is very unlikely to want to hurt their mother financially.

Muttleythefrog wrote: »

Nothing..lol. I had slightly above the minimum 6k threshold and made a capital repayment of a few thousand. This resulted in me getting signficantly less Support for Mortgage Interest than I was going to get but only a minor amount more for other benefits. I continue to make overpayments to mortgage which continues to reduce the benefits I get..lol.

Well what you did there sounds very sensible

Cornish_piskie

Night_and_Day wrote: »

Hi there A valid point, what if I meet a new partner. Thing is I know for certain that won't happen; not easy to explain why on here, but it's not a possibility. Ex-hubby and I have agreed to ringfence our existing assets should any new partner come along, which is a risk I am willing to take. Solicitors always assume the worst when they try to protect you, but my ex is a decent guy who does love his kids and is very unlikely to want to hurt their mother financially.



Well what you did there sounds very sensible

In that case, I wish you well and every happiness for the future. Ring-fencing assets just in case of a change of circumstances sounds sensible - we never know what's around the corner.

skintandscared_2

Night_and_Day wrote: »

Cheers guys. Ach, it was worth a shot. I went down fighting, at least.

No doubt the property solicitor will knock some sense into me tomorrow. I actually want my ex to hold onto the properties because I know the money will eventually pass to our children. Selling them now means less for them when we croak.

I'm afraid it doesn't really work that way. Would it be fair to stash away money (in the form of cash or assets) to leave to our kids, and let the taxpayer pick up the bill for our daily expenses? Not really.

Night_and_Day

nannytone wrote: »

i know it'd be nice to be able to build up a nest egg for your kids in the future .....

but you have to see it from the other point of view too.

its all well and good your kids having the money when theyre older, but in return you want the state to pay to raise them for you.

and i agree with cornish. it may well be all amicable now, but when, at some point in the future it isnt, you'll be in exactly the same position you are in now.

Yes you are right nannytone. I've a feeling we'll end up maintaining the status quo and I'll just have to tighten my belt a bit more. I have been applying for work for ages but without success - I certainly would prefer to pay my own way rather than rely on the state.

Whiteknight

Night_and_Day wrote: »

...

Hubby and I now separating . Split is amicable and he cares for mine and the kids' wellbeing. I am still out of work and he is paying child maintenance in accordance with CSA guidelines, arranged privately.

I'm going to pick up on the above section of your original post, you mentioned that he is paying the mortgage on the house you are living in elsewhere and of course is paying child maintenance.

Is he giving any money to you to help you out, some might say a maintenance payment to help you get by while you are out of work?

Might be wise to mention all money he is paying to you and the children when you apply for any income based benefits.

antrobus

The test applied by the DWP is this; has the claimant deprived themselves of capital with the specific intention of obtaining benefit?

So what the OP needs is proper legal advice and a formal separation/divorce agreement that specifies exactly what they're giving up and what they're getting in return i.e. the "trade-off", basically giving up any legal claims on three properties in order to secure a home in the fourth.

Dave101t

multiple houses and rental income....and you want benefits.....

Night_and_Day

Whiteknight wrote: »

I'm going to pick up on the above section of your original post, you mentioned that he is paying the mortgage on the house you are living in elsewhere and of course is paying child maintenance.

Is he giving any money to you to help you out, some might say a maintenance payment to help you get by while you are out of work?

Might be wise to mention all money he is paying to you and the children when you apply for any income based benefits.

Hi there, we checked the CSA calculator and he pays the correct amount for his income, no. of children etc. There is no spousal support and to be honest I know he couldn't afford that anyway. He had to take out a personal loan to buy furniture for his new house and he is going to struggle financially too.