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Original poster

If I leave, would I get UC?

17 replies

AdiVic · 23/02/2019 13:29

Hello

I want to sell our house, pay off debts (35K in husbands name, he's on a DMS). He doesn't want to sell as he has a small workshop which brings in his income, without it, he couldn't do what he does. I want to leave the marriage (for good reasons which I will not go into as want to keep to the point). I do not, nor have ever contributed to the mortgage although my name is on it. If I left, would I get any help benefits wise? I have a 7yo boy and a 9yo girl. I have been on the benefits checker websites and they've given different answers. I work f/t and earn £20k a year - which isn't enough for the rent etc. around dorset where we live.

Does anyone have experience of being through anything similar?

Thanks in advance

Kind regards
A

OP posts:
MyDcAreMarvel · 23/02/2019 16:27

Probably a little towards childcare and rent but not if you have savings. Also if you sell house and spend the money, even to pay off debts you can be treated as if you still have the money.

Babyroobs · 23/02/2019 16:51

If you claim Universal credit ( which is the benefit you will need to claim ) then they will pay you the rent element for a number of months but may expect the house to be on the market. You will have equity in the house and they do give you some time to sell it. When it is sold if you then acquire more then 16k you would become ineligible for Universal credit.

DustyDoorframes · 24/02/2019 07:30

babyroobs isn't there an allowance for people on OP's situation to immediately put that equity into a new house, without it counting as depriving herself of assets? (Apologies, it's something I read on here!)

Babyroobs · 24/02/2019 10:40

Dusty - yes I think there maybe an option to do that and it wont be seen as deprivation of capital , but I think there is a limit on the timeframe by which it must be done by, maybe 12 months. I'm not 100% sure on this rule though.

MiniMum97 · 02/03/2019 20:42

If you use money to pay off debt then this would not be seen as deprivation of capital under UC rules.

You can also have 26 weeks to use capital from a house sale for a purchase if a new property. You can have longer if it is reasonable.

slipperywhensparticus · 02/03/2019 20:46

Seriously 20k a year and you cant pay rent? Fucking move areas I'm on almost half your wages and I rent

jemihap · 03/03/2019 05:34

I also think you'd be better off moving to an area more appropriate to your budget rather than expecting the taxpayer to fund your current lifestyle in your current location.

SherlockSays · 03/03/2019 05:51

@slipperywhensparticus 20k a year is not a large salary by any means, particularly if OP lives in an area with high rental prices and has childcare costs. It's not a race to the bottom.

I assume that your 10k salary is topped up either by a partner or benefits in order for you to pay rent and other essential bills.

Mmmmbrekkie · 03/03/2019 05:59

Yes OP
I have two children
I even £24k a year part time and I have quite a bit of help (it’s about £550 of UC)

Mmmmbrekkie · 03/03/2019 05:59

Ex has for 3 nights a month

homegrownmumma · 03/03/2019 06:00

I'm in an expensive part southwest, I pay £725 for a 2 bed flat and we live on my husbands income of 20k .
lower your rent expectations , kids might have to share a room so even if your not entitled to UC you should hopefully still be able to afford to live

Mmmmbrekkie · 03/03/2019 06:04

If the OP is entitled to UC, then she should go for it.

She’s not asking whether £20k is enough to rent a property

BlueWonder · 03/03/2019 06:11

On 10k salary, you wouldn't usually pay any income tax and probably get tax credits, housing benefit, free school meals for children etc. On £20k you would be getting less of that support plus paying tax so in reality there might not be that much difference between the two amounts.

Not really what the OP asked but pointing out 20k earned pa is not 20k to spend.

MaverickSnoopy · 03/03/2019 06:16

£20k is about £1.5k/month. I live in the south and that would just about cover rent/mortgage, council tax and food but nothing else without benefits.

The trouble is if OP moves to a cheaper area, it would likely be much further away, possibly at least to the Midlands, if not to the north. That would of course mean finding a new job, new schools and also a lot further away from her current DH which would make coparenting (if coparenting is an option here) significantly harder with fewer visits for the children to see dad.

Mmmmbrekkie · 03/03/2019 09:43

Oh sorry wrong thread

Inpainduetoworkincident · 03/03/2019 09:50

If you separate any tax credits claim will end regardless and it'll be a UC claim.

You will be expected to take steps to gain your property asset.

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