Divorce property and benefits

[Moaningmeadowlark]

I am divorcing my husband at the moment. We have young children and for part of the divorce my solicitor is suggesting we put a charge on the property so that I only have to give him his share if I remarry or the youngest child reaches 18. In terms of benefits that he can claim, if he applies for Universal Credit will he get housing benefit entitlement as one of the questions is whether you own any property and of course this puts him above the threshold even though technically he won't access it until either I remarry or the youngest is 18 which is a long way away. Does it count as not owning property? Thanks.

Putting a charge on the property does not mean he owns any part of it.

Ah ok thanks. Even if he had shared ownership of it before?

If the property now belongs entirely to you the fact he may have had shared ownership before is irrelevant.

I don't know anything about charges but I do know benefits (benefit officer)

Second properties can be ignored for capital purposes if the home is a person's former home occupied by a former partner who is a lone parent. (Or a pensioner).