Separation when renting and claiming UC

[Newperson4]

Separation is on the cards. We are married and have 2DC. We rent our home from a private landlord and we both work in the NHS but claim UC top up.

Has anyone been in similar circumstances, and how did it all work?

We don’t have space to have separate bedrooms/beds but neither of us can afford to move out for the time being. Wondering if I could apply for a discretionary housing payment to help with a deposit for a new place (or he could, preferably) can we remain under one roof but claim separate benefits?

Any advice very much welcome.

The council may be able to help with deposit schemes.
You can claim separately but it can be tricky. You would need to be sleeping in separate rooms, all finances separated, cook separately, socialise separately etc. Unless you are each going to be claiming for one child each on your UC claim, it is unlikely that the one not claiming for the kids would even qualify for Uc anymore unless half the rent is still extortionately high. You would each need to claim for half the rent each. It's not really straightforward although it is possible.