Benefits Advice needed please-sister's H has gone and not going to pay anything

[lovelybird]

Any advice gratefully received

My lovely sister's useless feck of an H has p**d off with someone else leaving her and their 16month old son. He is not willing to pay anything towards mortgage, or secured load on property or any bills. My sis has seen a solicitor and is being referred to mediation, then divorce to sort things, but I wondered if anyone else has been in a similar situation or knows what she may be entitled to.

She works PT 24hrs pw and earns approx 8K a yr, so gets tax credits. Query is over the mortgage-she gets no help towards this. If she reduced her hours to 16pw does anyone know if she would then be entitled to help with mort, and would she get any extra help tax credits wise? She thinks she won't but I thought I'd ask. She is contemplating selling up and renting but prob not quite enough equity in the house to clear all the debts he has run up, so not sure if this is the right step.

She is a wonderful sis and mom and I am desperately worried for her. Any advice gratefully received.
Thanks

[MsDemeanor]

First thing I think she needs to do (poor her, boo hiss him) is to call her mortgage provider and explain that her dh has fecked off and is being a bastard. They may agree a mortgage holiday to take the pressure off, though I suppose this might depend on the amount of equity. I really think she should not sell until there has been a financial settlement as she may not have to give him a penny of the equity. I also think she should make an urgent appointment with the Citizens Advice Bureau and with a benefits advisor.

[MsDemeanor]

Oh and report him to the CSA - don't know position if not yet divorced though.

[carrielou2007]

No she will not get any help with the morgage. Has to be something like after 6 months if she is on income support (i.e. if not working) she would get the interest on the morgage paid but not the main morgage part, it is not the same as getting rent paid. She really needs to speak to her morgage advisor very quickly for some advice.

[1066andallthat]

No answers for you or for her - sorry. Just to say that I am in a similar position and the one thing that has kept me going is having someone like you in my life. It isn't fair being dumped on like this but saying that, I still feel lucky because I do have decent family, friends and my DCs.

[lovelybird]

Thanks for the replies - 1066 so sorry to hear you are in a similar position.
As well as our family my sis has so many wonderful friends who have rallied round and her house is constantly on the go with one or another of them, so she is getting lots of support from those who love her.

She has nediation appt so hopefully things are moving on now. She has contacted mort company and been to CAB but they eren't much help. All the utilities are in her ex's name and he has not cancelled them, even though he said he has done, and just cancelled the direct debits so now she is getting post every day demanding money from them. thankfully they are all in his name, and has called them to explain but they won't act on her calls as the accounts are not in her name. Hopefully he is digging himself into a big hole with the finances as he is in lots of debt also.

[ANTagony]

Its mercenary but you have to play the game and work out the right permutation of work and benefits is to be best off.

try this link

[1066andallthat]

Sometimes, it helps knowing there are other people out there in the same position and it is possible to survive it and not lose your faith in humanity, just one particular individual.

Is she happy with her solicitor? I know that makes a real difference - the one I am using is a specialist in family law and fantastic - very clear, no false hopes and a stirling professional. Has she got her own bank-account yet?

Does the mediation stand any chance of helping?