DH and I have split. He has moved out temporarily in with a friend with the hope that when I have had baby and am recovered that I will move out somewhere more suitable and he will move back in. We are married, this flat is mortgaged up to the nines so one of us HAS to live here. He is self-employed and making next to nothing.
I have a 19 month old DS and am due in 3 weeks' time.
Just spent the morning at the CAB where they spent 45 minutes explaining to me that I do not have to move. I know this. Problem is that we have no money to speak of and if we continue to live together we will kill each other. (not literally, but..you know)
Have been told that as we are married I will not qualify for income support or housing. I am stuck here. We cant afford to pay a full rent for one of us to move out. I am quite sure that I will ebd up with PND if I have to live with him when baby is born. This is horrid.

Erm.... you will have a newborn and a toddler, yet he is expecting you to move out? Is he serious?

And, showing my ignorance here I know, but do you really only qualify for help in a breakup if you're not married?

Erm.... you will have a newborn and a toddler, yet he is expecting you to move out? Is he serious?

And, showing my ignorance here I know, but do you really only qualify for help in a breakup if you're not married?

Oops! Told me it hadn't posted!

But you are not married, you have seperated. You should get help from housing and IS. I think you need to go to the benefits agency and check this out properly as the advice you have had appears flawed.

Idealy (IMO) you could do with getting out of the flat totally so you are not legally tied to any of it - the mortgage or the ownership so you can get a place of your own sorted out where the rent will be covered whill your dc are small but that may not be possible I suppose - how is the flat owned right now?

cab are talking rubbish. If you spilt up you qualify for help. Dont forget tax credits, tell them he has moved out and it will go up. As you have children your husband should pay you some maintance. Depending on how much maintance he gives you you might not get IS or housing benefit. Please get better advice. Hope you ok

legally she is still married at this point - i think you need a solicitor.

in any case if you have equity to your name then it complicates matters. for legal aid, housing benefit etc.

makes sense he moves out for now til you can sort it all out...

Cestlavie, legally yes but not from a benefits POV, they recognise thet there is a period between seperation and divorce where they will not be living together or supporting each other but still be married and you can get benefits then.

Thanks all for replying...manic toddler...will be back...

I am still legally married to my ex but I get housing benefit and tax credits (I work so no idea how income support works).

We jointly own a house but I moved out cos he wouldnt (he was having an affair) then he moved out to be with OW, we rent out the property we own jointly and plan to do so until housing market inproves, but as the rent does not cover the mortgage and we both have to pay some towards it, this does not affect my housing benefit etc, hope that makes sense.