Benefits following divorce and house move. When should I apply?

freda

I am in the final stages of a divorce. We are selling the FMH and buying separate properties. I will have the main care of the children (14 with sen, and a 16 year old).

I work part time, self employed, with a very fluctuating seasonal income of about 15k per year. I need a part time flexible job due to SEN child’s needs. I get DLA and child benefit and will get some CM from exDH.

I have spoken to Gingerbread, and I am pretty sure I am entitled to UC to top up my income on the months that I don’t earn much, and that the minimum income floor doesn’t apply due to SEN child being in receipt of DLA.

We don’t have a moving date yet.

When should I apply for UC? I don’t want to risk spending absolutely everything I have on the move and then having no income (summer is my quietest time).

Similarly, when do I need to put in a CM claim to ensure it starts when I move out?

Thank you.