My friend has finally found the courage

[Pleasehelpmybestfriend]

Hello lovely mumsnetters,

Please can you advise?

My closest friend has finally decided to leave her cheating arsehole of a husband. Lots of back story which is probably not necessary...

He's the main earner, but his wages are paid into her account currently as he doesn't have a bank account (long story involving avoiding bankruptcy).. the flat they live in is in her name only.

She works a few hours a week at her son's school and earns approximately £300 a month. The rent alone on the place they currently live is £750 a month.

Can anyone please advise what benefits she should be applying for and what she should be doing? Universal credit obviously, but anyone know what would happen as his salary is going into her account and he won't be able to get one I don't think?

She'd obviously need maintenance from him for their son (he's not interested in spending any time with him when they actually live together), so I imagine he'd be an every other weekend dad potentially, but also wouldn't put it past him to go 50/50 so he doesn't have to pay her anything...

Hoping someone in a similar situation can help me with advice for her please? She's not a get up and goer and I'd like to be able to help her leave without her giving excuses she doesn't know what to do.

Thank you in advance

Yes, universal credit and she needs to stop accepting his wages into her account otherwise it will be classed as her money when she makes a claim for universal credit.

Lots of places do basic bank accounts for people in his circumstances.
Money going into your bank account doesn’t affect your UC claim eg child maintenance. Universal credit is based on her income via the HMRC.
obviously having a place in her name is the issue! She is the tenant she should give notice as he could stop paying rent and she would be liable. Why can’t she just get him to leave ? Also because of her income she gets help for the cost of divorce.

Also that rent is low I’m assuming two bed? If she gets him out she may get help with rent payments Housing allowance via Universal Credit.

Thank you, so essentially universal credit, housing allowance and financial support for the divorce if required?

Tbh he would have to leave as she's nowhere else to go with their son. It would then be the issue of him not paying the rent, like you say, until she could get sorted. I did say to her about getting more work also which she knows she'd have to do and it wouldn't be an issue for her, as long as she could do school hours. But I guess one thing at a time.

You can absolutely get a basic bank account after insolvency (including bankruptcy). All the big banks offer them.

To be honest I think it started out because of the bankruptcy, but he's not very good with money clearly so she has to control the finances otherwise they'd have been homeless years ago...

Ah I see. Just thought I'd flag it as it's quite a common misconception!

Best of luck to your friend x

Unless there is abuse, unfortunately your friend won't be entitled to legal aid for the divorce.