Leaving partner benefits?

[midastouch]

I've made the difficult decision to leave my partner. I have found a house for me and my children its private rented so requires a deposit 6 weeks rent and month rent upfront plus admin fees. How do benefits work i have no idea! Do i apply before i leave the house? im so confused.
Also evertything in the house we share at present is his as i moved into his house so i'll have basically nothing, my mum can help me out with some stuff and ive got a bit saved but its not going to go far. Also ive got o references as ive only ever lived with my mum and then him. I have absolutely no idea what im doing and am terrified of living alone.
Id be so grateful for any advice.

If you are not working you will qualify for:

Child Tax credits (£112 a week)
Child benefit (134 a month)
Income support or JSA (£71 a week, paid fortnightly)

If you have a child under 5 you can claim income support. If your youngest is over 5 you will be placed on JSA instead and expected to look for work.

If you are renting then you need to work out how much housing benefit you are entitled to. This might help with that

You can check the CSA calculator to see how much maintenance you should be receiving.

There are loans but I don't know enough about them to say if you would qualify.

After 26 weeks of claiming income support you can claim a budgeting loan which may help you buy things you need for the house.

*crisis loans

For furniture, look for local Charity shops that do furniture or furniture recycling places. You can actually get some nice stuff if you keep an eye out regularly. Freecycle and gumtree too.

References can you ask an old employer or long standing family friend like a doctor or professional sounding person? Check this will be ok before handing over admin fees as in some places they don't refund if they turn you down.

If your dc is under 5 ask hv as they may know of some local schemes to help you get kitchen white goods for example.