Newly separated... am I entitled to benefits?

[RoseNarene]

My divorce is ticking along but my ex is being very, very difficult (see thread in Lone Parents if you're interested!!) to the point where he is refusing to leave the marital home. Because of issues with his behaviour and the things he has said to my 4 year old, I have taken the children and gone to live with my mum. We have been here for about a month.

I've been signed off work but I bring in about £850 a month, plus child benefit. I have a personal loan I'm paying, some personal bills (car, phone etc) and I pay the entirety of the mortgage. After this, I have absolutely nothing left. To say I'm sponging off my parents is an understatement.

My ex pays all the household bills. As a couple, we weren't entitled to any benefits. I tried to claim when we split but as we were still living together, the JobCentre said I couldn't claim anything as we weren't "financially independent".

I've managed to temporarily reduce my personal loan payments but was unable to reduce the mortgage because they said they would have to base it off our joint income, which would come back as affordable. But of course, I can no longer access his money and he's being uncooperative anyway.

I'm not destitute because my mum is looking after me and my girls, and she's also paying my solicitor. According to a calculator based on my single income, I am entitled to tax credits.

I will of course all the JobCentre tomorrow to speak to them about all this, but what do you guys make of it? Do you think I will be able to get hold of my entitlement? Do I qualify even though I'm living with my mum? Do I count as "financially independent" now that I'm no longer living with my ex? I haven't moved out "officially", I should probably say, in case that makes a difference...

Thanks in advance.

Yes you should be able to put a claim in now if living separately. If the child benefit is in your name it shouldn't take too long, maybe 2 weeks or so.

I'm pretty sure tax credits is based on income so it won't matter if you live with your mum.

I left my ex and moved out of the house we own and rent a flat. I am not entitled to housing benefit as I'm a home owner (even though I don't live there) but I do get tax credits.

Thank you for your replies!

Which address do I put down on the form? Obviously I still pay my mortgage on the marital home so do I put that one? Or do I put my mum's? Because I won't be able to provide any proof that I'm living here as ex pays all the bills at the marital home, and my driving licence and all official stuff etc. all has marital home on it. All I have is that my solicitor's letters come to my mums and have been for some time. Or do I not need proof of address?

can you not get your name off all the household bills (gas, water, electric, phone, council tax) first?

I haven't done that myself but I remember a friend going through similar and she made sure she was not on any of the bills anymore after moving out and before claiming as single.

if you don't live in the marital home anymore but your ex does, I think could get potentially into trouble of claiming fraudulently if you both have the same address and all the bills are joint. Separate them and then give your mum's address.

hope you get it sorted. sounds like a total nightmare.

Apparently I was only on the water bill - but I'm not any more, thanks to your advice!

I should be able to apply for tax credits now. Thank you all for your help.