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Lone parents

Use our Single Parent forum to speak to other parents raising a child alone.

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Original poster

income support

10 replies

sportscandy · 20/03/2008 19:31

Hi, I'm a new single parent (gulp) and am in a real mess. I'm a SAHM, H has moved out and says he will not pay mortgage after April. Today I found out I can't get IS because he is giving me £500 a month for the children. So how do I pay the mortgage? I'm not eligable for a council house because I'm not homeless. I think I may have to sell the house and rent privately, using any profits from the house sale. I can't belive this is happening....

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

chickenmama · 20/03/2008 19:53

I think you might be able to get interest only payments for your mortgage from the housing benefits office... I'm not totally sure on this but I do think there's a waiting period of several weeks before you're eligible. Definitely worth speaking to them to find out more.

Sorry you're in such a tricky situation, hoping it all works out for you

FrayedKnot · 20/03/2008 20:13

I'm sure you should be entitled to income support but what will happen is that your child maintenance will then have to be paid via the CSA. You don;t then actually receive the child maintenance - I think you receive £10 a week of it.

But the thing is if you are on income support you are then entitled to the other benefits, including help with paying your mortgage interest.

It sounds like if you want to stay in your current home you may have to go down that route.

In fact I think you would have to go down that route anyway unless you decide to go out to work?

Original poster

sportscandy · 20/03/2008 20:17

the thing is, I wont be eligable for help with the mortgage payments for 9 months !

OP posts:

HappyMummyOfOne · 20/03/2008 20:59

If your getting £500 a month maintenance thats far more than a lot of mums get so yes they are correct in saying you dont qualify for IS.

If you work, you would get WTC/CTC as they dont take into account maintenance so with this, your wages and the maintenance you should have more than enough to live on.

davidtennantsmistress · 20/03/2008 21:05

have you seen if you're entitled to housing benifit or not.

according to IS an adult only 'needs' £59 p/w to live on. (god knows how they work that one out but anyhow) basically they work out your maint, weekly, and then deduct £10 from it (the amount they allow you to keep) if the amount left over is more than said £59 you will get nothing, if it is lower they'll pay IS to make it up to the £59 p/w.

they will do this regardless of how you are being paid maintenance - mine is a mutual agreement with XH - he had to write a letter to IS basically stating what he was paying when from and when to - so everything was in order - but the CSA have never contacted either of us.

what will your divorce settlement be? is it possible for you to use said lump sum to downsize and get a cheaper mortgage (if those still exist?) if you rent pte as well and have savings you prob won't get the HB.

why will your H not pay the mortgage after april? sounds to me like you need legal advice there.

MsPontipine · 20/03/2008 23:52

Hi - so sorry about your circs. Did you actually fill in all the claim forms and have it assessed properly?? Benefits are so complicated depending on everyone's different circs so you do need to do this. Do you have a mortgage protetion policy that pay pay out possibly??
If you own you won't qualify for Housing Benefit but you may Council Tax Benefit so contact your council too.
You do have a solicitor I hope?
Maybe you are entitled to more maintenance.
You're going to be ok xxxxxx

MsPontipine · 20/03/2008 23:53

(sp) protection

Scramble · 20/03/2008 23:58

Talk to an advisor at income support place they will help you out.

You will have to do payments via CSA and you will get income support instead , but as others have said you will get a range of other things like free prescription, dental, glasses etc.

exH could perhaps pay the minimum to CSa and pay other things for the kids direct like fees for activities or whatever, buy not give you the money, so benefit people can't accuse you of anything.

gillybean2 · 21/03/2008 09:03

How old are the children? Is working not an option? You will likely be better off working if you are not entitled to housing benefit and are getting a 'decent' amount coming in as maintenace as you will have to pay the mortgage anyway and get to keep the maintenance, your salary and probably get WTC and CTC too. You have to work 16 hours a week to get those though.

Plenty of people have to manage on a very low income. When you're not used to it it can seem daunting, but it is doable but certainly not fun or easy and I don't recommend it!

If your children are at school there are options with playschools, even school for teacher assistance, or you might want to look at being a childminder if you have younger children not at school.

And there's usually options about in stores and supermarkets if you can fit around their shifts.

Try the CAB or your lone parent advisor at the job centre if you're not getting anywhere with the IS people.

Gilly

littlewoman · 21/03/2008 23:00

Why won't you be eligible for help with the mortgage for 9 months, SC? if it's not too personal a question.

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