Need a job, but would be signed off. Benefits?

[Sortingfinances2]

Any advice for a situation that seems to fall in the gaps?

High earner husband walks out.
Non-working wife cut off financially.
Very acrimonious. Solicitors involved.
Will need a job. Asap. High anxiety, depression and stress since split. If working, wife would be signed off.
Any suggestions in terms of benefits?

Thank you!

Go to CAB and ask for help going through benefits applications. It’s probably worth applying for PIP, though she’ll probably be rejected at first.

Universal credit will include a job seeker amount (which I think is what you've quoted) plus support for any children living in the home. If she has to pay rent, then universal credit will cover this up to an agreed figure, but not necessarily all of it. Things like council tax etc can also be covered.

But she won't have very much to live off at all, and they won't cover mortgage payments.

If there are children living with her, she should seek child maintenance as well, but this won't be immediate.

If she has medical evidence for anxiety etc, then it's possible she may be able to access some PIP, but this is difficult.

She really won't have much to live off of.

More detail needed. How old are the kids and how many? Mortgage? Is he currently paying for that or are you facing repossession? Going through CMS? It seems very odd walking out after 10 years and not paying a single penny.

Not enough allowance to meet bills and could be stopped at any moment.

I'm trying to keep specific details a bit vague.
Yes full NI contributions due to age and child benefit protection. So another few years and state pension will kick in

Sounds like we probably have followed all relevant routes.

It's a wake up call to non-working partners and those in 'traditional' marriages
She'll be fine financially longer term once the divorce is sorted and a job found.

Thanks to everyone for your replies 💐

She claims universal credits. Submit for notes and a work capability assessment will happen after a few months. She will have a work coach to discuss what steps she is taking to move forward and appointments in the job centre. After a while she will be referred for extra help if still unemployed. You need to be very sick really to get the award of LCWRA so don't rely on her getting extra money.

@RaininSummer thank you.

So you want to know what you can claim?

Because you obviously don’t want a job.

Many of us work with severe anxiety and depression, it’s not unheard of.

Grown up kids, so not at home? Why didn't she look for work when they became teens/ left home?
She's very lucky getting any matrimonial allowance? What's her perception of minimal? I know of school mums who would see £250 a week as 'minimal" as that wouldn't cover a hair cut, or the life she feels entitled to.. I.e lady that daily lunches, weekly beauty treatments, shopping etc.

It has to have lasted for 3 months and expect to last another 9 for PIP which given that it seems to relate to marriage breakdown, unlikely

Agree, having had some patients I've looked after be knocked back for PIP I really don't think (if that really is the only issue) saying,
"I've never really worked as my husband earned really highly, the thought of now working is making me ill" and this means entitled to benefits?

@FUSoftPlay No. She will work but is in a difficult spot right now.
I've been an Mumsnet and the relationships board for years, divorced myself and I'm horrified by what has unfolded. She is a shadow of her former self, not a spoilt brat.

@MichelleScarn hindsight is wonderful. I've been telling younger friends to never give up their financial independence. It was a traditional marriage and her income would have been negligible in terms of the family pot.

It's not court ordered allowance, so I imagine will stop on divorce. It's literally all she has access to. No credit card. No access to joint account. Barely driving to eek out petrol.

We weren't expecting PIP but wanted help making sure we hadn't missed something.

She should apply to the Court for a maintenance pending suit order. She can get it backdated. This should cover her costs whilst the divorce & financial order is settled. The Court will take a very dim view further on if he breaches it. It should take some of the pressure off and allow her to recover and start job seeking.

It sounds like she's living in the family home? And that once the divorce is finalised, she'll have a settlement that should mean she's reasonably comfortable as long as there's family assets - home, pension, savings and they didn't spend it all and were heavily mortgaged and in debt?

Can she rent out the family home, move in with a relative or live in a house share/studio to give her a bit of extra money by way of cheaper living costs and focus her energies on getting the house sold and divorce finalised? Perhaps do some volunteering if she's able to give her something else to take her mind off the divorce and difficult ex and also make contacts that could help with references when she is ready to start looking for work?

You're unlikely to get spousal maintenance but should get approx 50% of assets, including his pension.

You mention an allowance, how much is that? You mention a car, could she sell it? If she claims means tested benefits she should expect all her accounts to be looked at as well as how she has spent her money. Does she have long term mental health problems and is she getting treatment? If not, is it reactive to the marriage breakdown? Is the husband financing the adult children or are they self sufficient? Has she claimed the 25% council tax discount if she lives alone?

I'd never heard of a maintenence suit pending order. Am assuming that's tightly controlled as what would stop someone dragging a divorce out for ages just to keep getting paid that when they know they'll not get spousal maintenance?

Thanks again.
Some good suggestions there. Some not possible in the context of current mental health (not on going issues, caused by departure of H, subsequent behaviour and revelations - the rug being pulled out description fits well).
Maintenance pending suit order has been applied for - sadly the date given is still 4 months away, even as an emergency application.
Volunteering to boost confidence and gain references is a good idea.
Locally we have language schools that need hosts. I'll suggest that (moving out and renting the house out, while possible for money, would take a while to put in place).
I'll pass ideas on. Thank you!

@Sortingfinances2
This sounds awful and extremely stressful but go to your gp as people have said to get a fit note

I never understand even if husbands are high earners why people put themselves in this vunerable situation tho, it's crazy - I was always taught not to rely on anyone for anything and to earn my own money but the number of people you ready about on these threads is quite worrying

Also as the hearing is 4 months away I think your solicitor can request an "interim" payment which might be worth looking in to

She’ll be ok eventually but as you say, she needs to survive the next 12 months or so. An acquaintance of mine went through exactly the same thing at age 57. I honestly think that getting a part-time job in a social environment such as a busy office, would do her emotional health a lot of good. Plus volunteering. I’m not anti-benefits at all, but sitting around brooding and watching every last fiver will be detrimental to her well-being.

@MumOf2workOptions agreed.
I've been quite vocal at work with younger colleagues, sister in law etc. Don't give up work! Of course operate as unit, but retain the ability to walk away independently.
A friend talked about keeping a f-off fund 'just incase'.
This husband was the nicest chap. Fab family life, generous with his time, lots of friends. If he can do it any of them can.

@TennisWithDeborah agreed too.
I'm trying to encourage this. Her mind is solely occupied by him at the moment and there is no way it's good for her. There is a humongous mental hurdle to overcome. My job helped enormously when I divorced. You'd never imagine the job itself providing respite but it really did. I wonder sometimes if it also meant I didn't have time to grieve, with young kids and full on job, but 12 years later I'm fine so it didn't do me any harm.

This is why women should never give up work, even if they go PT.