Advice please -leaving husband

wheretoturnnow

Hi

I am a regular poster on MSE but needed to set up another ID for this request.

I have been married for about 18 years and have three girls ages 18,16 and 10. The eldest is about to go to uni.

My husband and I have decided to part. Should have done a long time ago but stayed for the children. His behaviour is unreasonable and I can't stand it any longer. The house is only in his name, and maybe has about £20k equity. I want to rent somewhere else with the girls. I own my own cleaning business and earn about £9k per year, with no prospect of increasing this at the moment.

I can afford to pay rent for a few months privately but will then run out of money.

He will contribute about £400 pcm for the girls.

Questions:

1. If I rent privately now, will I be entitled to Housing benefit?

2. What happens about the house, which is in his name?

3. Will I also be entitled to other benefits?

4. Am I better to rent a house first and then apply, or speak to benefits agency first?

I did the Turn2us calculator, which said I would get around £18000 per year (tax credits, housing benefit, and child benefit) but I'm sure it isn't that easy.

Any advice that you can offer would be very gratefully received. This is all so new to me and I have no idea where to start...

Thank you

WTTN

wheretoturnnow

Anyone?

x

Confuseddot

Sorry can't add anything useful but just to say good luck hope it works out.

RAS

Have you checked the value of the Local Housing Allowance for three bed house? That is the maximum rent you will be allowed to claim for benefit purposes. If you eldest stays with you, you need to ensure that she provide a discount letter for COuncil Tax.

She probably needs to contact SFE and tell them the family situation has changed and get her grant/loans reassesed urgently.

Your husband needs to pay 20 % of his salary as maintenance and that does not affect your Benefit entitlements.

Depending on his income you might get spousal maintenance for a year or two but this would reduce your benefits.

All assets and debts of the marriage are included in the financial settlement even if the house is in his name. The assumption would be that you would get at least 50 percent, probably more.

Dovah_diva

wheretoturnnow wrote: »

Anyone?

x

People are, in all likelihood, at work. Why not give them a chance to get home after a long, hard, hot day, have a cup of tea and maybe a bite to eat before hassling them?

ermine

Try the CAB boards on here - there are several things all intersecting and you probably need advice in person as to the issues. They have a HB section. And good luck!

dobs

hi im in same boat, have three children at primary school and about to move into rented, he is going to pay me four hundred a month, he earns 44, 000 a yr but is also paying for eldests school trips. I contacted cab but she said til i was moved out and knew what bills etc i had couldnt help me re any extra financial help, good luck hun xx

RAS

dobs wrote: »

hi im in same boat, have three children at primary school and about to move into rented, he is going to pay me four hundred a month, he earns 44, 000 a yr but is also paying for eldests school trips. I contacted cab but she said til i was moved out and knew what bills etc i had couldnt help me re any extra financial help, good luck hun xx

He needs to pay you 25% of his take home pay for 3 children. You may well be able to claim some spousal maintenance with three children in primary school

You need to know your local housing Allowance and to estimate you likely council tax bill. Once you do that you can start to estimate using www.turn2us.org.uk. Bear in mind that in addition you can get somehelp with child care costs if you work.

pmlindyloo

wheretoturnnow wrote: »

Hi

I am a regular poster on MSE but needed to set up another ID for this request.

I have been married for about 18 years and have three girls ages 18,16 and 10. The eldest is about to go to uni.

My husband and I have decided to part. Should have done a long time ago but stayed for the children. His behaviour is unreasonable and I can't stand it any longer. The house is only in his name, and maybe has about £20k equity. I want to rent somewhere else with the girls. I own my own cleaning business and earn about £9k per year, with no prospect of increasing this at the moment.

I can afford to pay rent for a few months privately but will then run out of money.

He will contribute about £400 pcm for the girls.

Questions:

1. If I rent privately now, will I be entitled to Housing benefit?

2. What happens about the house, which is in his name?

3. Will I also be entitled to other benefits?

4. Am I better to rent a house first and then apply, or speak to benefits agency first?

I did the Turn2us calculator, which said I would get around £18000 per year (tax credits, housing benefit, and child benefit) but I'm sure it isn't that easy.

Any advice that you can offer would be very gratefully received. This is all so new to me and I have no idea where to start...

Thank you

WTTN

Start here:

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland/relationships_s/relationships_relationship_problems_s/ending_a_marriage_scotland.htm

(Sorry, it's for Scotland so just change the country at the top of the page)

Because there is property involved and children you are likely to need a solicitor unless you can come to an amicable agreement (perhaps with help from a family mediator)

Do not do anything until you have read the above and sought advice from CAB and then a solicitor.

You do have 'rights' even though the house is in his name.

Get some professional advice.

Jobseeeker

the equity in the house will affect you as you and your ex are married. This will reduce the benefits you get.

The 18 year old is irrelevant as he/she is going off to Uni. You should get CB, Child tax credits (for the other two assuming 16 year old in full time ed) and working tax credits as your income is low.

RAS

Jobseeeker wrote: »

the equity in the house will affect you as you and your ex are married. This will reduce the benefits you get.

The 18 year old is irrelevant as he/she is going off to Uni. You should get CB, Child tax credits (for the other two assuming 16 year old in full time ed) and working tax credits as your income is low.

Not in the immediate future it will not and only slightly thereafter.

As a rule the house needs to be for sale within 6 months of the claim and some benefits do not count it as capital until it is sold. OP needs speacialist advice on this.

After EA fees and legal fees, the OP may receive more than £6k which will reduce her benefit support and less than £16K. she spent a £fewK on legal costs sorting out the divorce, it is likelyshe will be back on full entitlement very quickly