Please don't Judge - what do I do

[MixedBananas]

I am considering separation from my husband (religious marriage only). I divorced in 2013 but life was easier then. I had a home to go to (parents) and no children, and a job and flexibility.

This time around I don't have the option to go to my parents, they have said I am not welcome if I leave my partner. I have 2 very small children younger then 4. I also left work after marriage an agreement which I 100% wanted to be at home with the kids. And it worked out fine. I got "pocket" money monthly and unlimited access to partners money. But for the last 6 years have had no income of my own. I have very little savings (I was too generous thinking it would last).

Please don't judge me, I know I took a massive risk and now potentially going to suffer with my kids.
What are my options? I can at most afford 2 months rent from my savings but then I will have £0 balance. Literally. Can I apporach the local authority for help with housing until I am back on my feet financially? I just need some general advice and tips and pointing in the right direction at this moment.
Please be gentle.

Can you get a job? You'd be entitled to CMS but unless your partner was agreeable, that's it. What are you entitled to through your religion? The UK has religious council's for divorce.

You haven’t said why you are separating. Is it an emergency? DV or abuse? Is there any access to your partner’s money now or is he financially abusing you? Will your parents do childcare so you can work, even if they won’t house you?

Do you live in an urban centre that might have specific housing (you mentioned religious marriage)?

Having a religious-only marriage means that legally you are not married and financially you're no different than a woman who has been living with a boyfriend whose relationship ends. You have very little rights to his assets.

As the mother of young children you would get state benefits though. There are various websites that help you work out what you can claim - I think one is called EntitledTo and another is Turn2Us. There's also a lot of info from a charity called gingerbread especially this page www.gingerbread.org.uk/find-information/benefits/work-related-expectations-universal-credit/ which explains what the rules will be for expecting you to seek work, depending on the age of your youngest child.

You can still claim Child Maintence from your ex, as that isn't dependent on whether you were married.