Benefits whilst waiting for Divorce

jackieblack

spidercrab wrote: »

I think she does have a credit card but the statement goes to him as he is the one who brings the money in (it must be joint names).

That sounds like she is an additional card holder on his account.
He could cancel her card when she leaves (or whenever he likes), leaving her without access to credit.

spidercrab

The car is hers but it will be in his name - I think it goes on his company policy as he has own business.

FluffyDuck3

spidercrab wrote: »

Thanks for your really helpful comments. We have already been sneaky - I am divorced myself so I know a few tricks. Copies of documents have already been taken and are kept at my house - we don't even know what some of them are! The house is definitely in both names as we found copies of deeds. I think she does have a credit card but the statement goes to him as he is the one who brings the money in (it must be joint names). She is totally reliant on him for every penny and I know that if she starts proceedings against him the first thing he will do is take her car off her, which in turn would make her job search more difficult. She is finding it almost impossible to make the first step as she knows how awful he is going to be. He is actually not a bad bloke but he is getting extremely careful with money but then again, we all are at the moment.

Does he give her any cash at all? Could she set up a savings account and put your address for correspondence?

spidercrab

I don't think she gets much cash - I think it all comes off the debit card. I did tell her ages ago to start putting little bits of money aside but that is easier said than done. Even if she did do this I don't think she would be able to put enough aside for her to support herself for several months.

Mardle

Women's Aid is possibly the best place to look for advice as I would imagine that this is the sort of situation they deal with regularly.

BigAunty

Has she checked her NI contributions towards the state pension? Did she pay any voluntary contributions? After a certain cut off point in the future, the government are expecting pensioners to have paid 35 years worth of contributions and receive a pro rata state pension in return. However, there is supposed to be some kind of replacement for pension credit which now tops up those with low state pensions.

FluffyDuck3

spidercrab wrote: »

I don't think she gets much cash - I think it all comes off the debit card. I did tell her ages ago to start putting little bits of money aside but that is easier said than done. Even if she did do this I don't think she would be able to put enough aside for her to support herself for several months.

As mentioned earlier, to apply for JSA she'll need to be actively seeking work. She'll need a CV and have to apply for vacancies. It might be good for her to have something else to focus on while the divorce is going through. I can't see the job centre expecting her to walk into a job. They might send her on a course. Again, that could be good for her.

Even if your parents don't ask her to contribute initially, she's going to need some cash for a few weeks until benefits come through. If she can put just £10 a week away until she leaves that will help. Can he access her account? If so, get a new account.

If I was in her position I'd go through the house and earmark what she's going to take with her. And, as suggested, is there anything she can sell or pawn?

xylophone

Has your friend enquired about her state pension position?

https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-statement

specialboy

Apart from bringing up the kids which was obviously a while ago has she actually contributed to the marriage or has she just lived off his earnings?Playing devils advocate here because the husband looks like he's going to get turned over by reedy one on the thread.

clearingout

specialboy wrote: »

Apart from bringing up the kids which was obviously a while ago has she actually contributed to the marriage or has she just lived off his earnings?Playing devils advocate here because the husband looks like he's going to get turned over by reedy one on the thread.

thankfully the courts don't see things the way you do. Marriage is seen as both parties having made an equal contribution, regardless of how much one party may have brought in in cash compared with the other. Many, many successful people rely on a non-working spouse as enablers of that success - looking after their homelife, children, holding dinner parties and who knows what else. How much would it cost, for an average of say 25 years, to pay for childcare support, cleaners, cooks, people who do your shopping for you, clothes washers, ironers etc. whilst you pursue a career. It is not uncommon for London nannies to be paid in excess of £25k a year, for example.

Sigh.