Boyfriend has left his missus and son, where does she stand?

GSXRCarlos

Hi all,

Never had to post anything before but a friend of mine has just been left by her boyfriend.

Back Story:

They've been together a long time got one son (3 year old). They currently live in a rented house together and she doesn't work. His wages used to pay for everything. (they do receive tax credits etc - but i don't know how much)

Where does she stand now he's left?

Is she entitled to anything from him? besides CSA?
What about her house? will she lose it if she can't get a job to cover the bills?

clearingout

It take a while to get sorted but here's what she needs to do:

1. Claim Income Support immediately - she can do an application on-line or over the phone. With the Income Support application she will be asked if she wants to apply for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit - the answer is yes.

2. Phone local council and get Council Tax changed to single person occupancy - that knocks a huge chunk off the bill immediately. Council Tax Benefit will cover the amount in full.

3. Phone Tax Credits and change the claim to a single person's claim - she will probably end up with more money than she was getting (although depends on what he earned).

4. Let the landlord know what's happening - hopefully he/she will be reasonable if they know that the rent will eventually come via Housing Benefit. She may need to move, however - is she in a two or three bed? There will be limit as to how much she can claim and she'll have to pay the rest out of her tax credits/income support. If she's in a three bed, moving to a 2 bed will help with that.

5. She will be entitled to Healthy Start Vouchers and free prescriptions for herself - an application form for this will come out with her tax credit claim.

6. Make an appointment at the local CAB after you've done all this to check everything - most are busy so she'll probably have to wait a while. Best to get the application in.

7. If ex won't pay maintenance (there are calculators on the CSA website as to how much he should pay as a minimum), she needs to open a claim at the CSA as soon as possible. They wont' backdate - so give him one chance to sort it out with a tight deadline and if he won't do it, CSA it is.

clearingout

oh and after all that, then she can look for a job!

go_cat

You would get benefit advice for your friend by posting on the benefits board - some great advice on there

Gigglepig

Good advice from clearingout.

In addition: Here is a benefit checkup tool she can use: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/benefits-check

If your friend rents privately and can no longer afford the bills, yes she may need to downgrade to a smaller/cheaper property now that it is only her and the child, but that seems reasonable, right?

It is nice that you are supporting your friend. Good luck to her.

daska

Just to bulk out the info in clearingout's post

You can check bedroom entitlement and current rates for Local Housing Allowance HERE. (I'm assuming it is a private rent not social housing).

Tax Credits will require that the joint claim is closed and NEW single claim is made.

The application for HealthyStart vouchers can be made on-line and you don't need to wait for the Tax Credits to be sorted out if the Income Support/JSA gets sorted first. Not sure if it still needs a signature from her Health Visitor or GP so worth checking.

GSXRCarlos

It's all happened so quickly and he's just decided that's he's going with no word or warning.

I knew these things would take time so that's why i wanted to ask.

She's a registered child minder and is already set up to take kids (has been working at Asda until recently) and was just waiting to get christmas etc out the way before starting up (all the various ofstead checks are in place at her current house) and now this!

IIRC the house is a two bed house, privately rented

Thanks all - we'll be sitting down tonight - i know she's already sorted some stuff out, but i just wanted to be a bit more prepared

Mojisola

Is her landlord okay with her running a business from the house?

LandyAndy

GSXRCarlos wrote: »

It's all happened so quickly and he's just decided that's he's going with no word or warning.

I knew these things would take time so that's why i wanted to ask.

She's a registered child minder and is already set up to take kids (has been working at Asda until recently) and was just waiting to get christmas etc out the way before starting up (all the various ofstead checks are in place at her current house) and now this!

IIRC the house is a two bed house, privately rented

Thanks all - we'll be sitting down tonight - i know she's already sorted some stuff out, but i just wanted to be a bit more prepared

And running that sort of business is within, or not excluded by, her tenancy agreement?

ETA: Beaten to it by Mojisola.

clearingout

daska wrote: »

Just to bulk out the info in clearingout's post

You can check bedroom entitlement and current rates for Local Housing Allowance HERE. (I'm assuming it is a private rent not social housing).

Tax Credits will require that the joint claim is closed and NEW single claim is made.

The application for HealthyStart vouchers can be made on-line and you don't need to wait for the Tax Credits to be sorted out if the Income Support/JSA gets sorted first. Not sure if it still needs a signature from her Health Visitor or GP so worth checking.

yes, the Healthy Start Vouchers need signing off by a health professional. She should be able to catch a health visitor at a drop-in baby weighing clinic rather than trying to make appointments and having to wait.

GSXRCarlos

Mojisola wrote: »

Is her landlord okay with her running a business from the house?

i presume that's all been sorted, but will ask the question