Help for seperated fathers?

Ralphy101

Hi

I seperated from my partner last week.

I am currently sleeping on my sisters sofa.

I am looking at my options in terms of any help i can get.

I earn £1286 a month - but £200 of that will be paid as child support so leaving me with £1086.

Having spoke to the housing dept. at my local council they told me that i would not be entitled to any housing, as I am not classed as homeless since my name is still on my previous tenancy ( she is changing the tenancy agreement to her name this week).

Would i be entitled to any housing benefit to help me afford to rent a small place of my own - so that i can have my son stay with me at weekends? Private rent alone would be half of my monthly income.

Obviously i would not want to go into shared accomdation as i would want my son to stay with me.

I tried looking at the benefit check but i cant see the option of inputting any Child support payments.

I cant stay at any family as there is simply no room.

So iam wondering if any of you guys know of any help i could get.

Many thanks

karenx

For claiming benefits they dont take into account any debts or payments you need to make. So your maintenance doesnt count so you will be assesed as having £1286. And I will be surprised if you get any help towards housing as you will only be entitled to the one bedroom rate if over 35. Shared rate if under

Ralphy101

thanks for your reply.

this is where the system stinks then - the relationship split was her decision, yet someone who activly wants to see their child and pays maintenance, has to make do with renting a shared property - making weekend access impossible?

I cannot beleive child maintance is not taken into account.

karenx

Only the parent with care can claim the child related benefits so you only recieve anything that a single man is entitled too. And with your income thats not alot.
Why should maintnance be taken into account?

Notmyrealname

You take home over £300 a week if that figure you quoted was take home pay. Even after paying the child maintenance then that leaves you £250 a week to live on which is enough for most areas outside of London to rent a flat and pay the bills.

midnight_express

Welcome to the world of the child free,(for this is how you will be treated) we just pay out and get nothing back.

Oldernotwiser

Ralphy101 wrote: »

thanks for your reply.

this is where the system stinks then - the relationship split was her decision, yet someone who activly wants to see their child and pays maintenance, has to make do with renting a shared property - making weekend access impossible?

I cannot beleive child maintance is not taken into account.

Being in shared accommodation needn't make weekend access impossible; it doesn't necessarily involve overnight stays.

BigAunty

Means tested benefits do not take into account expenses, only income.

Ralphy101

Im sorry ... i fogot to mention

I live in Devon

a 1 bedroom house... or flat will be at least £550 a month

Council tax £120
Child maint. £200
Utlities £100
Water £50
Tv li. £12
Food £50 a week (minimum)

thats 66 left .... without fuel, insurance,

she left me... she;ll get everything paid for her..

just seems wrong to me.... and no your right i dont have to have overnight stays but the key issue is... i want it...

a joke !

Oldernotwiser

Ralphy101 wrote: »

Im sorry ... i fogot to mention

I live in Devon

a 1 bedroom house... or flat will be at least £550 a month

Council tax £120
Child maint. £200
Utlities £100
Water £50
Tv li. £12
Food £50 a week (minimum)

thats 66 left .... without fuel, insurance,

she left me... she;ll get everything paid for her..

just seems wrong to me.... and no your right i dont have to have overnight stays but the key issue is... i want it...

a joke !

I think you're still budgeting for a family; your utilities, water and food are enormously high for a single person, even with a child at the weekend.

Also, if your child will be with you 2/3 nights per week, maintenance would be reduced on a pro rata basis.

[Deleted User]

To be fair to the OP my ex Mother in Law lives in Torquay and water rates down there are extortionate!!! £50 for a single person would be about right. OP House share don't necessarily mean you can't have your child stay over. It's a starting block, your child won't need their own bedroom and could sleep on a camp bed in your room?