Ending marriage, can I afford this? Please please help

Iwani

Hi, I've posted before but only got one response and have still been too afraid to trust the calculators. So scared to make this leap and leave and find out we can't afford to live. And even more scared of staying living like this.

Please, please can someone just tell me if these figures look right or if I've made an awful error.
I earn £630 a month (no tax, as under the threshold), work exactly 16 hours. Have two children, 1 & 3. No childcare costs (very lucky to have grandparents helping).
My rent is £900 a month. No other income or benefits.

I've had varying results from the online calculators but it seems to average out at about the following (all weekly):
CTC: £114
WTC: £46
Council tax support: £11
Housing Benefit: £86 (but on the phone she said £114 so I'm not certain about this one, just working on worst case scenarios)
Child Benefit: £33.70
So total £290.70 a week. Then add my wages on which I think work out to about £145 a week.
That's about £435 total income a week. Plus child maintenance (I think £320 a month)
If I've made a really stupid mistake here please tell me, as that looks like I can afford to stay here, I know my rent is ridiculously high for just me and two kids and eventually I'll do something about it, but I don't think I'll have the strength yet, I cannot take anymore as it is, and the peace of mind to know I can stay here might actually let me finally get some sleep at night.

Anyone?

pmlindyloo

Iwani wrote: »

Hi, I've posted before but only got one response and have still been too afraid to trust the calculators. So scared to make this leap and leave and find out we can't afford to live. And even more scared of staying living like this.

Please, please can someone just tell me if these figures look right or if I've made an awful error.
I earn £630 a month (no tax, as under the threshold), work exactly 16 hours. Have two children, 1 & 3. No childcare costs (very lucky to have grandparents helping).
My rent is £900 a month. No other income or benefits.

I've had varying results from the online calculators but it seems to average out at about the following (all weekly):
CTC: £114
WTC: £46
Council tax support: £11
Housing Benefit: £86 (but on the phone she said £114 so I'm not certain about this one, just working on worst case scenarios)
Child Benefit: £33.70
So total £290.70 a week. Then add my wages on which I think work out to about £145 a week.
That's about £435 total income a week. Plus child maintenance (I think £320 a month)
If I've made a really stupid mistake here please tell me, as that looks like I can afford to stay here, I know my rent is ridiculously high for just me and two kids and eventually I'll do something about it, but I don't think I'll have the strength yet, I cannot take anymore as it is, and the peace of mind to know I can stay here might actually let me finally get some sleep at night.

Anyone?

I have put your details into the benefit calculator here:

http://www.turn2us.entitledto.co.uk/EntitlementCalculator.aspx?sid=13&cid=ad4a89e0-e47a-49e7-8ab9-2215e17835a2&idk=ddf9a1e4-2bee-4b53-afc0-9e6b50bdb97d

using my own post code (and guessing your council tax band)and the total amount you are entitled to are even higher.

Difficult to check as I don't know where you live!

Yes, the figures you quote seem about right to me. Of course, your local housing allowance (HB) will be less than your rent so you will be expected to top this up yourself (perfectly doable with your child support)

The above benefit checker is usually fairly accurate.

The tax credits may be a little complicated as you will now have to make a single claim and base the award on an estimated income for this tax year but when you contact them they will advise you about this.

I don't know your current situation but please make sure you get some advice if it involves the ending of a relationship as benefits may be affected in some circumstances (eg. jointly owned property)

pmlindyloo

Just read your previous thread where you say you work for 14 hours - have you upped your hours? You need to work a minimum of 16 hours to get working tax credits.

Also, from what you previously said it seems nothing will affect your benefits unless you have savings of over £6000.

By the way, have you sought advice about your current tenancy agreement as you are talking about asking your partner to leave? Is it a joint tenancy?

Iwani

Hi and thank you so much for taking the time pmlindyloo. I did up my hours last week, I hope it doesn't sound too premeditated but I thought it'd be better to do so if we split as I could avoid going onto income support.

It is a joint tenancy, I hadn't even thought at all about whether or not that'd be a problem. Where is the best place for advice on all this, CAB?
My landlord is wonderful and pretty understanding though and I imagine as long as his rent's paid he won't be bothered.
I don't know how anyone ever gets the guts to do this, it's so stressful and scary. Almost all our bank accounts are joint.

Iwani

Also... I don't want this to sound wrong but I've taken so long to even look at figures and things because I'm so frightened of being left with nothing. And then I look at the number and... well, that's an ok amount to live on. Which I didn't expect. I suppose without the child support I'd be in trouble though.
I hope that doesn't sound bad, I can't seem to word things properly tonight.

comeandgo

I'd suggest you open a bank account in your name only and even if you only put £10 in it,it will be ready for you when you need to have your own bank account.

Iwani

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm the only one with access to the internet banking, which is also linked to the kids junior isa's, so I think I'm going to ask him to open his own when the time comes as I really don't want to lose the way I have it all set up now. He'd just have to give me his cards which I think he'd be ok with. I'm hoping nothing has to turn nasty though I suppose that's probably easier said than done.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

If you have not claimed HB in the previous year and previously could afford your rent they should use the full rent figure for 13 weeks in the calculation of your HB entitlement before using the LHA rate to calculate your HB. Ask your Local Authority about the 13 weeks protection.

Iwani

I had never heard of that, thank you HBO. I've never claimed anything so will make a mental note to ask about that.

Housing_Benefit_Officer

Iwani wrote: »

I had never heard of that, thank you HBO. I've never claimed anything so will make a mental note to ask about that.

They are supposed to ask you to see if you qualify some council computer systems are set up s the processor has a message flash up on new claims to ask that question so people get 13 weeks protection. It is supposed t act as a breathing space to allow the claimant too look for cheaper alternative accommodation.

If you apply ask about the 13 weeks protection.