Benefits advice needed please

[Nutcracker]

As some of you may already know, last night i told my dp that i want our relationship to end.
He will be the one that leaves as the flat is in my name, but i am worried that i will suddenly be left without any money.
At the mo I get WFTC of 92 pounds a week (3 kids) and 150 a month child benefit.
Do i ring WFTc and tell them or not ?? If i do that will they stop my money straight away ??
Do i actually have to wait until he leaves to apply for income support ???? At the mo he is saying he has no where to go and no money, so although i would prefer him to leave soon i have said he can stay until he gets paid on the 28th.
I know i have to claim Housing benefit and Council tax benefit too, but when do i do that ??

Sorry about all the questions but i'm confused and worried. I'm already broke and all of the bills are in my name.

Hi Nutty - So sorry that it's come to this. Surely you're ex will be contributing some money? That might take the strain off the bills.

Is his name on anything? If not then I can't see why you can't claim asap. I would advise you to see a Solicitor just to get some good legal advice no matter how amicable the split is. The 1st consultation with them will be free.

Sorry I can't be much help.

Hope it turns out okay for you.

I am sorry Nutty, I knew life was very tough and you were very unhappy. I hope you come through this ok.
AS far as I know WFTC carries on till its period end, then you are reassessed on your new criteria?
Ring the CAB asap, they are brilliant, also Gingerbread single parents group are incredible with benefits help, really in the know
link here for you gingerbread

thats my first ever link lol hope it works
hugs to you nutty xxxxxxxxxxx

He will have to pay via csa i suppose, but i know he will not give me any money direct.
Do i still need a soliciter even thiough we are not married ????

Yes Kiwi it works. Thanks for that

ring their toll free number, I found them amazing, they told me everything I needed to know
CSA will take what he pays if you are on benefits I think, do not hold your breath the CSA are slow as hell... MY DS is 10 still nothing from them, lucky exp and me sorted it out ourselves.
Solicitor unlikely to be needed as you are renting and everything in your name already, might be worth even ringing benefits agency direct and asking them contrary to popular opinion, they can be helpful at times, although not today as on strike.... think they have some online calculators too

Nutty - Even though you're not married you will still have legal arrangements to make. It's best to keep it all official in case (god forbid!!) it turned nasty. Plus you will presumably need to organise visitation rights etc etc..... I definitely think you should consult a Solicitor about it all.

Nutty, if you are on benefits then you will see only a very small amount of his CSA payments sadly. See your citizens advice bureau or pop into your local benefits office and contact Gingerbread who I am sure can all help. Sorry it's bad, but it really sounds as if it is for the best and you can make a great new start. Good luck for your future. I really hope you do that training you've been promising yourself.

I wouldn't involve a solicitor if you can help it. Very expensive and tends to make things worse. My dh ended up fighting over property and contact with his evil ex (all instigated by her )and the bills - and stress - were horrendous.

definately contact the social security as by law they got to tell you everything you are intitled to and when they finish the list ask them is there anything else you can claim being a single parent and ask them to send you all the forms sorry i have to give this advice because of something bad happening in your life you can also claim for a crisis loan to tie you over while the money is being sorted out and they will take out a set amount out of your income support but you dont pay intrest only what you borrowed

Nutcracker:

1.Just so you know, WFTC is now Child Tax Credit + Working Tax Credit (Tax Credits) and has been for about a year.
2. As a lone parent you will almost certainly stay entitled to tax credits. I THINK (can't remember, need to double check) maintenance is not counted toward tax credits (but it is anyway toward income support), so the maintenance wouldn't be deducted from the Tax Credit part of your benefit but would be from the IS part. So if you get more than around £55 maintenance (!) you will win overall.
3. I THINK you would get a little more in tax credits than you are getting at the moment claiming as a lone parent...
4. I would advise you to tell them, if you are getting too much money they can take it back off you, if you are getting too little then you can only get it backdated a maximum of 3 months.
5. Tax Credits are calculated over a full year. They would not normally stop your money entirely.
6. You don't have to wait til he leaves to apply for income support. You only have to include partners on your claim. He's not your partner. BUT they may decide that you are "cohabiting" ie living together as husband and wife. Explain the situation fully on your IS claim form and you shoudl be ok, its not an uncommon situation.
7. You claim HB and CTB from the council, normally they have offices where you can do this. If you give them a call (number shoudl be in the phone book) then they shoudl be able to help you.
8. If you get really stuck , Mummytojames is right you could apply for a Crisis Loan, but you might also be able to get a Community Care Grant out of them, depending what its for, advantage of that is its non-repayable.

9. Tax Credits may offer you a hardship payment. This is basically a loan, and will be repaid out of next years tax credits.

10. This all assumes you are not working, if you ARE working +16 hours a week you cannot claim IS BUT you can get extra money in Tax Credits.

Hope things get better.

I can never remember how much maintenance they let you keep, it's either £5 per week or £10 per week. I've probably made up the £10 though, as £5 is just so extraordinarily mean.

Remember to contact Council tax people as you should get 25% rebate as single person living in home, as long as children are under sixteen or in full time education.

Good luck

so sorry nutty im going through the same thing contact me if youwant to talk [email protected]