Ok im in need of info desperately, is there ANYONE who can help!!?????

[Doormatt]

Im about to leave my partner, we never married and we have 3 small children together, can anyone tell me if and what help we may be entitled to? if i find my own place to live will i have help with my rent? - how much? im really feeling lost in it all right now, id appreciate ANY help at all, TIA xx

Saw your other thread and it sounds like you're doing the right thing. I don't know anything about family law, but you could try talking to the CAB or CSA. I guess he'd have to pay you some form of maintenance...

Would definately go to CAB and they should be able to offer you the best advice!

Hi Doormat.I was in this position myself (2 kids) 2 years ago.I found the website www.entitledto.com very helpful.You just put your info in then it tells you what benefits you are entitled to,including housing and council tax benefit if your privately renting.
I will say, get in touch with the benefits office as soon as you leave as it can take a couple of weeks to get an appointment about benefits etc,if wanting to claim housing benefit you can actually put in a claim for it upto 13 weeks before you need it.My lone parent advisor(benefits office)
was a great help.

It seems a big scary step to take but there is lots of help out there.

Good luck xx

Your best starting point is the CAB as they can help you break down what you need to do into manageable chunks! Benefits will be affectd by the amount of income you have, any assets you may own, and if you have a job how many hours a week you work. If you have paid full NI contributions in the relevant tax year you may be able to claim higher rates of benefit for a while. Help is available for rent in the form of housing benefit (this isn't automatically 100% of your rent though, so it's best to have an idea of what you might be entitled to before you go looking for somewhere to rent). Don't forget peripheral benefits that you may be entitled to like free prescriptions and free school meals. Once you claim benefits the CSA will get involved to look at maintenance. There's a lot to sort out, but you will get there in the end. Good luck.

Dont know anythhing that would help but i just wanted to say that i saw your other thread and it sounds like you have made the right decision, good luck.