Please help, lots of questions and don't know where to start.

[Holdmyhandplease]

I am currently a stay at home mum of 2 (one in school other not) their dad and I are splitting and I just don't know where to start.

I will be moving out of the family home and would like to rent a place nearer my parents. This is for a few reasons... Obviously support from them but also where we live now there are very few job opportunities, the schools have no after school club so even if I did find a job I would really struggle with child care.
My soon to be ex earns enough money to support us in this house (very low mortgage) but would not be able to support two households. So in the begining I will have to claim some benefits till I get myself sorted.

Housing benifit is the one that I am a bit confused about, I have done a calculator thing which says what I am intitled to and found a house that is ok and will just need a bit extra to top up the housing benifit which will be fine but what happens next?

Do you just rent it then move in then hope to god your application is successful? Can you apply before you rent going on what your circumstances will be when you move? What happens if you are turned down?
I am going to ring the letting agent in the morning and find out if they will take someone with houseing benifit but just not sure where to go from there.

Has anyone been in the same position? I am very scared I will end up with no where to live :(

Hi sorry but I have no experience or advice on this but I just wanted to say try not to worry because whatever happens you will not end up with nowhere to live

Why doesnt he move out of the family home if you are going to the RP ?

Don't panic! It's all very simple, I promise. First step IMO is to get in touch with Gingerbread so they can allay your concerns and tell you what you're entitled to. You can contact them on their free phone number, details here www.gingerbread.org.uk/content/425/Helpline

HB is normally paid directly to you and then you pay the landlord, you don't actually need to tell the letting agents as it may prejudice some of them towards you (it's your choice). Do you have a deposit though? If not, it may be trickier to find a place without a deposit.

You can apply for HB as soon as you find a suitable place to live. If the let falls through for some reason, no problem, just tell the HB people and you can reapply when you do find a place. If you get turned down, it will be for a very good reason, like you are far too wealthy but Gingerbread should be able to help you assess that.

Hope that helps and best of luck

Thank you. I will ring them tomorrow. Yeah a deposit should be no problem I just wasn't sure if I had to move in first and then apply and what if it was turned down. Being too wealthy won't be a problem I don't have a job at the moment.

Gettingeasyer - I could stay where I am and it is all very amicable but I really can see no way of getting a job and having childcare where I am. The school has no after school club and there are only two childminders in the area, both full.