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Original poster

Single mum now

17 replies

Mrspinknails · 27/08/2025 18:32

Single mum with two kids both on dla.
I work full time. Ex left the home still pays half thr mortgage and min cm.
In the process of remortgaging to give him a lump to get him off the mortgage
My mortgage is high already and although ive been accepted to take it on my own its tight. Esp with school dinners, uniform, all the other costs associated.
My take home is 3k from work but my mortgage is 1300. My kids have some savings in their own account ( Halifax super savers for children). I have arpund 700 in my current account now until I get paid.

A colleague applied for uc. Im not sure what amount she receives but im worried about my kids savings. I moved them form the current account 9 months ago when my ex cheated and I kicked him out. He had already been using the current account to pay for hotels coffees etx wkth her so I moved the savings ASAP to he couldn't get his grubby hands on money we agreed would be for our kods so I opened up the account in their name.
Im worried that it looks dodgy if I apply for uc like im hiding it.
Id obviously declare it still but would I need to send in all bank statements I have to them to go through?

OP posts:
Dearover · 27/08/2025 18:53

How much do they have in their accounts?

tripleginandtonic · 27/08/2025 19:57

Are you entitled to UC on that take pay?

northernlightnights · 27/08/2025 20:15

Highly doubt you’d get UC with a mortgage - you’d get a tiny portion related to the interest part I believe and thats it

dontcomeatme · 27/08/2025 20:20

You wouldn't get help paying the mortgage you have to apply for that separately and it's classed as a loan, you have to pay it back when you sell the property. You might be entitled to a UC top up depending on your actual take home pay every month but I think you're just over the amount cap.
You can have up to £6000 in savings before it affects UC. I think child savers, if you have control over the money and its moveable, then they count towards that £6000 too. Its still "your" money until they are of the legal age for the bank to transfer the account to their name.

Nousernamesavaliable · 27/08/2025 20:25

As long as the children's accounts are in their names but in trust of yours they won't be taken in to account. Like others have said they won't help towards you mortgage payments however that also means you dont have any entitlement taken away from earnings. You'll also be claim back childcare up to a certain amount.( sorry can't remember what) put the claim in...worst it can be is no. You'll be no worse off.

JohnofWessex · 27/08/2025 20:29

Were you married?

Original poster
Mrspinknails · 28/08/2025 18:38

Yes married.
I know I wont get help with mortgage.
According to lots of calculators online with that take home pay I may be entitled due to the dla pushing me into the bracket.
Kids have around 7k between them. Yes I control it, for instance I had to use some to buy school shoes for them. Not ideal but when I get paid il put that money back for them.

OP posts:
iamnotalemon · 28/08/2025 19:47

When do you get paid? £700 seems a lot but what else have you got to pay from that amount and how long does it have to last.

JohnofWessex · 28/08/2025 20:46

You need proper advice about the likely settlement between the two of you

It's not necessarily going to be 50 50

JohnofWessex · 28/08/2025 20:46

You need proper advice about the likely settlement between the two of you

It's not necessarily going to be 50 50

dontcomeatme · 28/08/2025 20:53

Mrspinknails · 28/08/2025 18:38

Yes married.
I know I wont get help with mortgage.
According to lots of calculators online with that take home pay I may be entitled due to the dla pushing me into the bracket.
Kids have around 7k between them. Yes I control it, for instance I had to use some to buy school shoes for them. Not ideal but when I get paid il put that money back for them.

Then the money is actually yours until the account is no longer in your control. It will count towards savings. The only way to avoid that is to lock it away in a fixed ISA in your child's name, or something similar x

Original poster
Mrspinknails · 29/08/2025 10:27

JohnofWessex · 28/08/2025 20:46

You need proper advice about the likely settlement between the two of you

It's not necessarily going to be 50 50

We've agreed the settlement but its waiting for the judge to agree.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mrspinknails · 29/08/2025 10:28

iamnotalemon · 28/08/2025 19:47

When do you get paid? £700 seems a lot but what else have you got to pay from that amount and how long does it have to last.

Food, petrol amd need to pay for the school lunches.

OP posts:
Original poster
Mrspinknails · 29/08/2025 10:31

dontcomeatme · 28/08/2025 20:53

Then the money is actually yours until the account is no longer in your control. It will count towards savings. The only way to avoid that is to lock it away in a fixed ISA in your child's name, or something similar x

Show quote history

Reason I cant do isa is their autism. I cant risk them going nuts with the savings when they reach 18.

OP posts:
Squishymallows · 29/08/2025 10:32

dontcomeatme · 28/08/2025 20:53

Then the money is actually yours until the account is no longer in your control. It will count towards savings. The only way to avoid that is to lock it away in a fixed ISA in your child's name, or something similar x

Show quote history

This. If it accessible by you then it will be counted as your savings

Original poster
Mrspinknails · 29/08/2025 10:34

Is there anyway I can tell the advisor about their savings and why I cant risk an isa? It seems a tick box application only

OP posts:
WorkCleanRepeat · 29/08/2025 11:57

Mrspinknails · 29/08/2025 10:34

Is there anyway I can tell the advisor about their savings and why I cant risk an isa? It seems a tick box application only

Pop a message in your journal if you like but you will probably need to attend a meeting to verify your capital where you can explain.

As far as Universal Credit is concerned the savings belong to you and not your children if you have access to and control of them. Especially if you are using the money to cover things like uniform.

There will be a small deduction to your UC for any capital over 6K.

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