Separated but still living in same house

JaneDb

Hi, I've been to CAB today and they were little help.
Please can someone advise.
I am separated but still living in same house, working part time 16 hours a week for 52 weeks on ESA. (work related activity group)
I have to end ESA, what benefits can I claim for low income whilst living with a separated spouse (who has filed for divorce)?
Child of 19 working under 16 hours and child of 21 in Uni which I support financially along with student loans.
I wait in hope of help.
Thank you Jane

paddedjohn

Why/how are you supporting your 21yr old when you can't even support yourself.

nannytone_2

you may be able to claim the disablity element of working tax credits, but you wont get anything for your children. they are both adults and as such are expected to support themselves.

make sure financially you are totally seperated from your ex, as issues can occur when you appear to be a couple in any slight way

skintandscared_2

Is your ex the father of your children? If so he should still be taking some financial responsibility here. Why is your 19 year old only working 16 hours? Are they looking for full-time work? Does your ex still contribute to household bills, as he's still living there? Your 21 year old has a student loan to live off and needs to try and stick to that - you don't have the means to top that up I'm afraid.

asdf1982

the child of 21 can get a job cant they? do they live with you? i dont understand why you would have to support them financially, even without a job a loan would be enough as they dont have rent and bills to pay like the other students. dont let your kids take advantage if you're disabled and on benefits

you might be able to get some working tax credits and maybe housing benefit but your are not a single mother if your children are adults.

Icequeen99

JaneDb wrote: »

Hi, I've been to CAB today and they were little help.
Please can someone advise.
I am separated but still living in same house, working part time 16 hours a week for 52 weeks on ESA. (work related activity group)
I have to end ESA, what benefits can I claim for low income whilst living with a separated spouse (who has filed for divorce)?
Child of 19 working under 16 hours and child of 21 in Uni which I support financially along with student loans.
I wait in hope of help.
Thank you Jane

You will need to make sure that you are properly separated even if living in the same house. The rules depend on whether or not you were married.

I would suggest you make sure everything is separate, that you have separate finances, that you severe any financial connections, keep receipts of food shopping to show you are buying only for two people, show how the bills are paid i.e. you both pay half etc....I would suggest that you might get a solicitor to draw up some sort of agreement between you of how things will be split whilst you are still in the same house. All of this will show you are single otherwise you may have a hard time proving it if you are questioned.

The disability element of WTC would be possible if you are doing 16 hours and your income is low enough.

IQ

JaneDb

Thank you Icequeen99
Your info was helpful. I'll go on .gov.uk and have a look at the eligibility for disability element of WTC

asdf1982;
My 21 yr old son is in full time education at uni many miles from home. H has rent to pay as well as travel and equipment costs. He is in his final year doing his exams so all his time is now spent on revising. When his meager student loan runs out and he has no food Ii send him money. (And when the boys each reached 18, I knew I would not be classed as a mother raising children, single or otherwise)

Skint&Scared;
Yes, soon to be ex is the father; He is financially irresponsible . I'm lucky if he pays the mortgage each month. (This is the only household bills he pays I pay the rest)
My 19 yr old was full time but the co was doing badly in the economic climate and reduced everyones hours, he is currently looking for something better.

Nannytone;
Thank you will check .gov.uk for WTC

paddedjohn;
Least helpful~ Why do I support me son?? Because I love him, he's my son. I'd give him my last Rolo. If he's eating baked beans with no toast I'll send him the price of a loaf!

paddedjohn

Don't get me wrong what you doing is admirable or it would be if you could afford to do it, my daughter is in her last year at Uni and I make sure she goes without nothing but I am working full time and in a position to do so, you are not. If I was skint tomorrow and I wasn't able to give my daughter any more cash I still know hat she could live on her student loan as long as she cut back on her luxury s like nights out, maybe that's what you need to be doing with your son and loosening the apron strings a little. Have you decided who's staying in the house yet? If you need to rent somewhere you will only get the 1 bed rate unless of course your 19 yr old moves with you.

Dunroamin

JaneDb wrote: »

Thank you Icequeen99
Your info was helpful. I'll go on .gov.uk and have a look at the eligibility for disability element of WTC

asdf1982;
My 21 yr old son is in full time education at uni many miles from home. H has rent to pay as well as travel and equipment costs. He is in his final year doing his exams so all his time is now spent on revising. When his meager student loan runs out and he has no food Ii send him money. (And when the boys each reached 18, I knew I would not be classed as a mother raising children, single or otherwise)

Skint&Scared;
Yes, soon to be ex is the father; He is financially irresponsible . I'm lucky if he pays the mortgage each month. (This is the only household bills he pays I pay the rest)
My 19 yr old was full time but the co was doing badly in the economic climate and reduced everyones hours, he is currently looking for something better.

Nannytone;
Thank you will check .gov.uk for WTC

paddedjohn;
Least helpful~ Why do I support me son?? Because I love him, he's my son. I'd give him my last Rolo. If he's eating baked beans with no toast I'll send him the price of a loaf!

As you're on a low income, your student son should be on the full package of student loans, grant and bursary. You'd help him more be encouraging him to budget on his quite reasonable income rather than topping up his income.