Unsure about benefits

[Bonden]

My friend’s situation… I think she may be able to claim some kind of benefits but have no real knowledge of such things. Can you help?

never married her ex but have lived together for 18 years
DC 1 aged 16
DC 2 aged 11
ex still living in the wholly owned family house (no mortgage).
ex is self employed, income fluctuates around the £40k mark

shes looking for a job after 16 years as SAHM so any earning potential for her is likely to be minimum wage.

Who owns the house? Ex or them jointly? She has been unbelievably stupid to give up work without marriage.

They both own it - but “morally” it’s his, she says, as it was bought primarily with funds from his father (now deceased). Yes she’s been stupid - I want to make sure she’s not stupid again by failing to explore possible benefits

Google turn2us benefits calculator. She can enter hypothetical situations anonymously and it will tell her how much she could claim and how to do it.

With children that age she will be expected to look for work. She could probably claim UC and get help with housing if she needs to move out.

They need to sort out what happens to the house and how they split it asap and a maintainence for the children. However that will stop at 18, which isn't that long away TBH.

She needs to prioritise getting in to paid employment or she is facing a very poor old age.

The house should be sold and proceeds split. She can’t just say it’s morally his and expect the taxpayer to step in. Thats for housing herself.

If it's in both their names then unless a deposit was legally ring fenced she takes half and gets a job.

Because she still lives with ex he would be classed as a lodger or friend, which means he’s she’ll be entitled to around £1300 per month

If the house is in joint names, it doesn’t matter who paid for the house, your friend has earned her share by doing all the housework and childcare in it for the past 18 years, she should make sure she gets her half.

If the house is in her partner’s name only she has no claim on it at all, it’s all his. Your friend should get herself on the council housing list asap and look at private renting. Your friend can claim benefits but she will be expected to get a full time job asap.