Leaving husband - how to cope financially?

[bluebellscorner]

I don’t understand to make it work financially! Husband is unemployed and has had no income since January, he has now started his own business but it’s early days and no money has come in yet. At the moment we are living off a loan from his parents.

I simply have to leave but I have no money, I have put everything I had into this marriage (we both did). We have four kids and I haven’t worked for over a decade. I am at a loss, I don’t know where to turn. I feel utterly stuck, I have nowhere to go as I don’t have any family (parents both dead) and I don’t have any friends that I could live with even for a short period of time.

We have tried to coexist in this house but it’s just not working. He would never leave, but I can’t stand it any longer. He is not abusive but there are other things.

I have tried to apply for jobs so let’s see if anything happens, it’s obviously not easy with such a large gap on the cv.

There is nothing I can do until I have a job and an income, is there?

What about benefits? How old is your youngest child? Do you have savings or investments in your name? (These factors would affect benefits.)

You can pay rent with housing benefit and survive on Universal Credit presuming you meet the criteria. It's doable.

I think a deposit is needed, unless you can get a loan for one from somewhere in the system (could you ask at the council offices?)

You could approach the council but honestly as he is self employed unless he is willing to pay maintenance you probably are going to struggle getting any

Do you have money in joint accounts which you could use for a deposit? Or family or friends who could lend you money for it on a long term loan basis?