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Divorce/separation

Here you'll find divorce help and support from other Mners. For legal advice, you may find Advice Now guides useful.

How do I buy/rent a home for me and the children when I have no regular income

4 replies

MumOfTwoCrazyBoys · 22/06/2017 21:57

There's a lot of back story to this situation in terms of the actual relationship, I dont think it's really relevant to the question I have so will cut to the point that I'm at right now.

After a ten year relationship I'm getting nearer to the point of saying enough is enough. There are two very young children, neither yet at school.

Due to my husbands job and the shifts he works I am unable to have a substantial job (because I'm looking after the children when he works), and so i work on an ad hoc basis. Some weeks I can work no hours, some weeks I could do up to 30 hours. An average is probably more like 10 hours a week. It is unpredictable, but it has fitted around his job and been enough of an "extra" income on top of his to keep the family afloat. However it's nothing like enough for me to go it alone!

So the massive thing that's holding me back now (from leaving I mean) is money.

How can I get myself and the children somewhere to live without a regular and substantial income of my own?

Even if we weren't together, my availability for work (or lack of) would still be dictated by his hours, as I'd be reliant on him to look after the children when I worked, just as he would be reliant on me having them when he worked. So my availability for work would remain what it is now.

Is this doable? Can I provide a happier home for me and my children if I leave?

OP posts:
TheFifthKey · 22/06/2017 22:00

Well, if you got a job with regular hours, as a lone parent you would be entitled to tax credits to help pay for childcare - quite a substantial amount. So don't rule out doing that.

MumOfTwoCrazyBoys · 22/06/2017 22:08

Ah ok, thanks for your reply. I need to find out what I would be entitled to. It's a whole new world for me 😐

OP posts:
TheFifthKey · 22/06/2017 22:15

Your DH would have to pay maintenance, unless he had the DC 50% of the time (in which case childcare during his time would have to be paid by him), and that isn't considered income for tax credits purposes. Also 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 30 hours free childcare from September if they have a lone working parent (or two working parents).

Hardym · 23/06/2017 21:04

Go to the 'entitled to' website and you can see all the benefits you would be entitled to x

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