Money/Benefits

[Whatdoidowithmylifenow]

My (D)H has recently left me. We have 2 children (7&2). He is currently renting a room somewhere and is seeing the children once a week (coming back to the family home). Is says he will do this for a few months until he can set up home with the OW (and her 2 small children), so he can still afford to pay the bills as he was before. I feel a little like I'm being held at ransom, as I am having to stay elsewhere once a week so he can have the children (which I actually feel is beneficial for them as they are still in their home),

I work part time - 16 hours a week. So I do all the childcare and my DS gets to do all his after school activities etc. My DD is looked after by a family member but is due to start nursery in September.

My question is - am I able to claim benefits now whilst he is still registered at the house, because he's not actually living here or do I have to wait until he's 'officially moved out?' I just want to get some of my own money, until I can do more hours in September, so that I feel like I am a bit more in control.

Thanks

If you can demonstrate that he’s left the family home and is paying rent and bills elsewhere then you should be able to claim Universal Credit as a lone parent. Make sure the utilities and council tax are in your name alone and apply for a single adult council tax discount and any income-based exemption you might be entitled to.

However, your benefit claim will become more complicated when/if he begins to pay the rent and bills again, it blurs the lines of how separated you really are. This really isn’t a viable option long-term, you need to come to an agreement about selling the family home or one of you buying the other out so you can both move on properly and have somewhere to live which means you can both house your DC when they’re with you.

Thanks @ComtesseDeSpair

He his planning on renting elsewhere - he's just waiting for a reasonable amount of time before he moves on with OH 

He says he will pay for the children but obviously that could all change when he's properly in his new relationship.

I would not be able to get a mortgage on my own currently (I gave up a very well paid job to look after the children and would take me a while to get back into that) and I do not plan on leaving my house at all. He has other means of securing himself a home for him and his children when he has them - he is just choosing not to as this is easier and means he doesn't have to be a grown up 

let him pay for things as"maintenance", which is exactly what it is, a contribution towards his children!

if you can prove hes moved out thenclaim - takes 5 weeks to process anyhow

no other advice other than i'm sorry .