DWP - Mortgage Interest

real1314

Hmmm, a bit funny this query. Is it the purpose of this board to help people re-arrrange their situation prior to a separation to gain mortgage payments?

And does it actually make a difference? It might be paid regardless??

Oldernotwiser

SuziQ wrote: »

My whole point was that they might be better off keeping off benefits totally,and him paying her maintenance on a voluntary basis-without the csa needing to get involved.As they are only testing the water as to the best route to take this was a perfectly honest thing for me to say surely?

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I'm sorry, I didn't read your other post that way. Thank you for clarifying.

2springers

Thank you all for your replies. The whole benefits system seems to be a bit of a minefield designed to confuse people.

Regarding the purpose of the board real1314, I thought the purpose was to offer advice and information re benefits which is what I asked for and what these kind people have taken the time to provide for me. I'm not looking for a way to scam the system. It just seems unfair that I could rent privately and have my rent paid but I can't keep my children in their family home where they have stability and do not have to potentially move every six months.

Re perhaps we should stay together SuziQ because we are able to talk about this in a civil way - in many ways it would be easier if we hated each other, if he wanted to give me nothing and I wanted to take him for every penny he has but we're still best friends, we just don't love each other in the same way after 10 years of marriage. This is why we have time to consider our options - there is no rush for anyone to move out and no one is demanding anything from the other person. He is keen to make sure me and the kids have whatever we need and I am just as keen to make sure he will still be able to afford to live, including renting somewhere decent close by. If we have to make a private arrangement re maintenance then we are both happy to do that but I don't know how we will afford the mortgage and rent on another house plus all the bills, food, etc.

dmg24

TBH 2springers I doubt very much that relying on IS will give you the standard of life that you/ your husband wish for you to have.

A 'private arrangement' regarding maintenance has to be carefully planned, and declared, otherwise as Onw mentioned, you are going into the area of fraud. People inevitably get found out when this happens, and the last thing you would want for the children is the parents up in court.

My advice would be to work out a reasonable amount of maintenance, and then look at what benefits you may be entitled to, based on this amount of income.

2springers

dmg24 wrote: »

TBH 2springers I doubt very much that relying on IS will give you the standard of life that you/ your husband wish for you to have.quote]

lol, that sounds like I'm asking for a champagne and caviar lifestyle. All I'm hoping for is that we can both afford a place to live. I don't have expensive tastes - I don't even have a car, we live in a 3 bed terraced house with two children and have a mortgage of £108,000. The problem is that rental prices in the area are not much less than our mortgage so I can't see a way that hubby can afford to pay both on his salary. We certainly couldn't afford to double our mortgage payments if we stayed together and, like you said, income support is not going to be a lot of help. I don't want to rely on benefits but I cannot find work locally that will even cover my childcare costs as my children are just 2 and 1 so no school or free nursery places yet.

Any private arrangement we might come to will be witnessed and in writing using a solicitor and will be declared in full when applying for any benefits. I am not about to commit fraud.

I was simply hoping there might be a way I could stay in the house with my children. One of us has to stay because nothing is selling around here in the current housing market but judging by the replies here it looks like hubbby will have to stay in a 3 bed house on his own while I rent a 2 bed house somewhere with the children.

dmg24

The system is a lot simpler if you rent rather than have a mortgage. I have heard whispers of a reform of ISMI, but whether it will be favourable or not I don't know.

Even if you are eligible for ISMI, remember you will have the 39 week waiting period (I'm assuming you didn't have the property before 1995?). You would need to consider how you would pay the mortgage for that period, and obviously this money could not be from your husband as it would affect your entitlement to IS.

I know a few couples that have split up, and for financial reasons have continued to live in the same house. Could the children share a room and he move into the spare room? It isn't ideal, but in the short term it could be an option?

Oldernotwiser

Many people in your husband's situation have to accept that they won't be able to rent a whole flat but to take a room in somebody else's place. At one point I knew several people who were almost playing musical chairs with the husbands being lodgers in the spaces left empty when the owner's husband moved out. (Hope you understand what I mean). Even a moderate lifestyle is going to be difficult to maintain separately, which is one of the reasons that SuziQ was suggesting that you might be better to keep the marriage going.

SuziQ

Both my break ups have been mostly amicable and in many ways that does make it harder.
I had no choice with my first husband as he was violent due to a mental disorder and was refusing to get help. It became less and less amicable when he realised that he wasn't going to be able to maintain a nice lifestyle after our split! He very quickly stopped paying maintenance,the CSA gave up as he was self employed and I was working full time at the time and not in receipt of any benefits.He's paid nothing for over 11 years,lives in abedsit and goes abroad 4-5 times a year.
After second marriage break up (I know-I am not proud of my life, but made a bad choice and couldn't live with his lies any more even though I still care for him in many ways)my husband has been like a schizophrenic,promising us the earth by way of clearing his debts one day,next day giving me hell as he has been forced to move back in with his mum and hates it.He hasn't even contributed to his half of the mortgage,though I expect he will want his share of the equity if the house has to be sold!

The marital 'cake' only slices so many times and in many ways it's unrealistic to expect to do anything but struggle after marriage break up (unless you're Mick and Jerry!)
I can't wait to get back into employment and support the family independant of benefits or any man! (sorry to any decent blokes out there,I know there are some!)