Self employed partner unable to work, hit me with your stories, tips, advice, support and experience

carrotstick_2

I'm hoping for some advise from someone who may have gone through a similar situation, and has any advice. My partner is self-employed however has been extremely ill recently, and has been in hospital for a short while. He is unlikely to be able to work at all in the coming weeks, and likely a number of months. It also quite likely that he will not be able to go  back to the exact work he was doing previously due to the strain on his body. However now two thirds of our income is suddenly gone.. I have updated our budget and almost all of my wages will be gone on bills.. which allows little to no money for food / fuel / any other emergencies that may crop up..
I'm not sure if we will be eligible for any benefits etc.. as he had earning for 5 months of this financial year.. and as far as I can see they go off the last financial year.  I will look in to this separately but it is not the reason for my post. 
We had some savings.. but these have / are going fast!
Please hit me with your stories, tips, advice, support and experience! We also have three children, so want this to affect them as little as possible.

Savvy_Sue

Put your revised income into something like 

https://www.entitledto.co.uk/

And see what comes out there.

How old are the children? I know you want to protect them, but hiding too much doesn't do anyone any favours.

I would also start thinking about what else your DH can do. Might he take over home cooking, growing veg etc? Does he have any less physically demanding skills he could put to use? Getting well is obviously the priority, but something to focus on can be a great help.

I wish you well.

london21

You never know check if you are entitled to any help. 

Think benefits get affected if savings over £16,000.

74jax

If your income covers the bills and your partners was 2 x more than yours, then you may have more savings than you think.  I'm only saying this as sometimes when !!!!!! happens, it's hard to see the facts.
Look at where your extra used to go, spending 2 x bills money on 'misc' with nothing to show for it (month after month) will hopefully really show money you didn't think about somewhere.  
You've readjusted your budget which is great, you could pop it on the Debt Free board on here and everyone will bring up ways of saving money.
I'm sure it's scary, esp. As your partner has been so ill and you've had to deal with it alone, but you've done the best thing and tackled it straightaway, before it got out of hand.