Advice on single parent benefits

ragdollyana

Hi, I have a friend whos partner has just left her. They weren't married and his name is on the house. She works part time. Can anyone give advice on what help she can get. She has an appointment to see an advisor next week but any advice in the meantime is welcome. Thanks

poppy12345

ragdollyana wrote: »

Hi, I have a friend whos partner has just left her. They weren't married and his name is on the house. She works part time. Can anyone give advice on what help she can get. She has an appointment to see an advisor next week but any advice in the meantime is welcome. Thanks

More information is needed to be able to help. Does she work? Rent or own their own home? Any dependent children?

ragdollyana

The house is owned but it is in his name. The mortgage goes out of his personal bank account. They have a shared bank account for bills/food , etc which they both pay into. They have two children. She works part time less than 16 hours a week. Thanks.

calcotti

The relevant benefit will be Universal Credit but at the moment they appear to still be financially linked so it would be very difficult for her to claim benefits as a single person. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/

I think she should get her own bank account if she doesn’t have one and they should stop using the joint account. Her partner can still make child maintenance payments which will be ignored as income.