Partner has left us/ Claiming benefits.

[Pikachuooh]

I'm currently a stay at home mum with a ten month old and a 7 year old, my partner, who was the sole earner has just left me. Although we've had a tough time recently, I really didn't expect him to give up on our family. I've been spending the last few night crying my eyes out tbh.

It has just dawned on me, I have no income, how do I go about getting finantional help? I didn't inttend to start work until my son started school but obviously that may have to happen sooner rather than later now. We rent privately and recieved a small amount of child tax credit and child benefit. Will a private landlord continue to rent to me whilst unemployed? Will I be entitled to housing benefit? I assume that my child tax credit will increase but seeing as I won't be looking for work right now I can't claim job seekers.

Is there anything I need to know? and what do I do first? I'm finding this very daunting.

Any help or adice would be welcome.

Amy.

[MrsPear]

As long as you have no visa restrictions you should be entitled to benefits. Inform the housing benefit and tax credits of the change in circumstances. Personally I would keep quiet re the ll and give yourself time.
As you have a baby you can claim income support until he is five and then it will job seekers. There is also council tax support and child benefit.

Go to entitled to.com and check the calculator.

[Babyroobs]

You should be able to claim housing benefit, child tax credits, child benefit and make sure yo claim maintainence from your ex which will not affect the benefits you can claim. As pp says you can claim Income support until your yongest child turns 5 although this may change. If you can find a job working 16 hours a week you may be better off as you can claim working tax creidts too and help with childcare. From April 2016 there are going to be big chnage in tax creidts amounts though so I'm not sure how your amounts would be affected from nect April.

[Madmog]

I've never had to claim benefits so don't know about entitlements, but a friend of mine who split up with her husband got advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau.

As said, try to delay telling your landlord until you know what you're entitled to and whether that covers the full cost of private rental.

[KatharineClifton]

I think Income Support is changing to only until the youngest is age 3 from April 2017. Then JSA/Universal Credit.

[WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant]

We are in a similar situation.

As a single parent, with a child not old enough for school, you should get some help.

Housing benefit up to your LHA (local housing average, I think)
Income support
Child tax credits
Child benefit

Also, when your youngest turns 2, he may qualify for 15 hours a week of nursery/preschool.
Sure start will help you with this.

You can apply for healthy start vouchers, to buy milk/fruit/veg

[specialsubject]

you could do the adult thing and tell your landlord that deadweight has left. If you have been good tenants, he has every incentive to work with you to find a way to keep you.

alternatively the landlord will find out, and then knows he is renting to someone who doesn't tell the truth. What would you do?

you also need to set wheels in motion to get deadweight paying for his kids.