Need URGENT benefit advice after a relationship breakdown

audioblackout

kingfisherblue wrote: »

On £3000 a year, it sounds like part time hours on a low wage. She is likely to have to increase her hours. If you employ her, she will have to earn at least minimum wage. Giving up employment can, I believe, lead to sanctions, so it's probably not a wise thing to do.

This is good advice. Yes, it's very low but when you're a couple it's fine. It was all her money and I paid for everything. She looked after the house. So it was all good at the time. However as you can see, it's not now. So we have to fix this. I've never employed anyone for my own business so can you tell me what the minimum wage is? What would I have to do? Thanks loads mate.

audioblackout

swingaloo wrote: »

So what you really want advice on is how to fiddle her hours to get the most benefits.
You are choosing to split in such a hurry but rather than working together as 'long term partners and friends' to achieve this you want the taxpayer to take the brunt.

Perhaps she could get a full time job asap and maybe you could help her raise a bond and first months rent.

I'm not trying to fiddle anything. I'm saying is there leeway to change things to ensure maximum benefits for her in the short term, if that's possible?

Also, were not choosing to split in a hurry, it's a necessity. But like I said, our relationship is something we wont go into. It's not the point of this post. We just need advice.

Thanks for replying though

karcher

audioblackout wrote: »

I'm not trying to fiddle anything. I'm saying is there leeway to change things to ensure maximum benefits for her in the short term, if that's possible?

Also, were not choosing to split in a hurry, it's a necessity. But like I said, our relationship is something we wont go into. It's not the point of this post. We just need advice.

Thanks for replying though

Why is it a necessity?

Bogalot

audioblackout wrote: »

This is good advice. Yes, it's very low but when you're a couple it's fine. It was all her money and I paid for everything. She looked after the house. So it was all good at the time. However as you can see, it's not now. So we have to fix this. I've never employed anyone for my own business so can you tell me what the minimum wage is? What would I have to do? Thanks loads mate.

NMW is £7.20 an hour

If she was only finding work for you that suggests she was an employee the whole time. Employment status is one of fact, not one of choice. If she chose to do so she could pursue you for the difference between what she has been paid and what she should have received.

audioblackout

Bogalot wrote: »

As a single person she would need to claim Universal Credits. Are you happy to put her through that, spending 35 hours a week seeking work, attending courses at the Jobcentre, subject to sanctions if she does not do as she is told?

Housing wise she'll be entitled to the one bedroom LHA rate, that's only going to cover (at best) a flat in a crappy area.

Your motivation of maximising benefits is all wrong, it would be soul destroying for her. Why not work out how to pay her a proper wage, or for her to get a proper job, and then she can move out off her own back?

This is the best post so far. Thank you so much. This is exactly what I need to read. Of course I don't want her on benefits, but we can see no other option. The problem we have is she has worked for me finding work in an area that unfortunately is extremely difficult to make money. That's why her present salary is so low. If she tried to find work, she would effectively be unskilled. In 4 weeks it's a huge job to find her a wage that will pay her money to live. That's why we think this security blanket of benefits is the only solution. Please don't ask me why it must be 4 weeks, but it must. Thanks for your amazing reply it's helped us think out of the box

audioblackout

karcher wrote: »

Why is it a necessity?

Like I said, these kinds of questions are personal. I won't go into it as it's not why I posted for advice. Thanks anyway

Mojisola

audioblackout wrote: »

Unfortunately me and my fiancee's relationship recently broke down after 25 years together.

She presently has her own business finding me work. She earns 3000 pound per year

This is the kind of tale that makes women realise that they have to be responsible for their own financial future even if they are in what seems like a stable relationship.

After 25 years as a couple, the woman ends up with practically no income (and very little pension unless there was a massive buy-back of the ten missing years) and is out looking for somewhere to live while she scrapes by on benefits.

CuppaTea

I thought the NMW was £7.50?

Sorry I've just checked and it is £7.20. May be I just heard talk of it going up then.

audioblackout

karcher wrote: »

I doubt she will be entitled to any benefits other than JSA, but she'd have to stop working for the £3K from you.

She certainly won't get much help finding somewhere to live.

If you want her out, find her a private rental, pay the deposit and first months rent etc, then if she is entitled to JSA she may get housing benefit at a guess, but nothing else!

Failing that, you could just live in the real world, stay living together, sell, give her her share and then go your separate ways.

That's the amicable solution.

Thank you so much for your post. Both of us want to move out in 4 weeks, so it's not a question of me wanting her out. It's a joint decision based upon our personal circumstances. We can't be in this house together anymore. Anyway...

So, what you're saying is find her a nice place pay the deposit and pay the rent for a month? Then apply for jsa and housing benefit? Meanwhile she might have a clearer idea of her own direction right? And then she might not need benefits. I like this solution. Thank.you.

elsien

You can find out the local housing rates for your area from the council. But it is no use helping her to find a house that she can't afford because the housing benefit doesn't go anywhere near the rent. Housing benefit will not get her her own house. She may get a studio flat but a shared room in a house is the most likely option unless she is willing and able to pay a top up on the rent.
JSA for a single person is about £74 a week if she has no other job/income, and won't give her enough to do this and still live/job hunt.
I would suggest as a starting point checking what rate is payable where you are, then looking on right move to see what that will get her. It may give both of you a bit of a reality check.
She will need money for a deposit, possibly rent up front, and all sorts of agents and reference fees. If you phone up some of your local lettings agents this will give you some idea of upfront costs which are likely to be in the hundreds.