Aibu to wonder how I will cope on universal credit?

[Hopelesscase32]

In the process of splitting with my partner of twelve years. We've five children together and he was the only one who worked.
I've been applying for work since last year with no luck and I was planning to go back to college in September which I probably will not be able to do now
Anyway so until I find something I will have to apply for universal credit. I've done a calculation and I will get £150 a week for the six of us. I don't know how we will manage once I've paid gas electric council tax school lunches the bus fair now he's taken the car the kids are in three separate schools and nursery which wasn't my choice by the way plus the food shop.
I'm not a work shy person I've gone back to work after all the three eldest and only stopped when my partner got a job that was ridiculously long hours
I just need a bit of advice on coping until I can find a job as I feel like I'm about to explode. I've not told my family and I don't have anyone I can really talk to. I'm on the verge of putting up with my kids watching their dad verbally abuse me and smashing things round the house when he's angry.

That sounds very low if there’s 6 of you. I’m no expert but I’d double check that. Is there a CAB near you? Which online calculator did you use, maybe try a different one. Do you own or rent your home?

That sounds really tough. Will you get any child benefit as well for each child ?

You might get a housing allowance as well...

What are the kids birthdates? Any born before 2017 should get the child element, you will also get the personal element which, if you are out of work you should also get the housing element if renting. Also look into healthy start vouchers and council tax support.

Remember he will have to pay maintenance.

Were some of your children born after April 2017?

You'll get child benefit as well and he should be paying maintenance equal to half the cost of raising his kids! There's jobs out there but you may need to adjust your expectations. If you are on uc the kids should get free school meals surely

Which calculator did you use? Five children, no employment, single parent, you should get around £300 a week Universal Credit plus £75-ish Child Benefit and whatever Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit would be based on your rent/council tax amounts. Try www.entitledto.co.uk/ for a more accurate calculator.

Rather than trying to work it out yourself you can use benefit çhecker or turn2us that will give you a better idea of the help you are entitled too. Also ask the school about free school meals for low income etc. You should definitely be entitled to more than that it seems very low.

Sorry should of said that sum is what's left after the rent had been paid.
The years of their births are 2008/2010/2014/2016/2018
The child benefit is included in that figure. It's probably best if I just go down there and speak to someone
Yes he will have to pay maintenance he earns around £2k but he's self employed and I can already predict he's gonna make things tough

You should the housing element of universal credit which depends on where you live, you shouldn't have to pay council tax if you are not working and if you pay for nursery you can claim up to 85% of the fees back, child benefit plus maintenance (hopefully depending on circumstances!) good luck with it all, I've been there

I used the entitled to calculator

You may also be able to apply for a warm home discount! £140 straight to your energy supplier

School lunches will be exempt from paying.
The advisor can give you a bus pass that gets the cost reduced but you have to ask.
Council tax will be very low payments, I think you have to go through CT for this.
Rent most will be covered by the housing element. If the shortfall is too much housing also have a discretionary fund

Ok, you will get

Standard allowance = £317.82
1st child = £277.08
3 x children born before 2017 = 3 x £231.67 each
Which is £1290 pm. PLUS rent (let me know what area you're in and I'll check your LHA rates), PLUS child benefit

However if you have any saving the figure will be reduced otherwise you are looking at roughly 1500 for the month which you have to take out rent and CT

I make it over £1500 per month PLUS your rent paid (usually almost all of it. Unless you live in a particularly expensive property/area or have spare bedrooms). You have definitely done a calculation wrong. You won't have to pay school meals or prescriptions either.

I will try another calculator tomorrow. Thank you all for replying. Right now my head's pounding I've got too much stuff on my mind, plus he's still downstairs stomping about. Will let you know once I've sorted myself out

Unless there are things you havent mentioned here that would affect your claim, you should get the standard element of £317.82 per month for yourself, £277.08 child element for child 1, £231.67 child element for child 2, 3 and 4.
You will also be eligible for a local housing element if you rent your property which will be different dependent on how many bedrooms you are entitled to and the area you live in.
There are other elements too, if you have disabled children or limited work capability yourself.
This is just a basic level of universal credit, so a monthly amount of £1289.91 plus your local housing allowance.

Benefit is capped at 21k per year I think.

You may be right about the amount you will receive as the benefit cap is set at £384 per week including housing element .

What you can do is apply to your local council for additional help with discretionary housing payment (DHP) toward any shortfall between your rent and housing element entitlement . They may also have a fund for discretionary payments toward council tax too.