Do I claim? and what and when? DH moving out

[hellogoodbye]

Hello. I am cureently on maternity leave with my 5month old. This month is the last month of maternity pay. My DH has just gone to stay at his mums for a while, but at present, we are unsure if this is a tempory or perminant arrangement.

We already claim housing benefit, but currently only get about £35 a week, but that is taking into my DHs pay and my maternity pay.

Also, I do not intend to go back to work. At least not where I was. I am possibly going to do childminding and I am waiting for my registration. I was going to hand in my notice this week.

Do I do everything as if I were a single parent, because my DH has moved out? He will pay me his share this month but if he is still living else where, he will need to pay rent himself, as he is currently on his mums sofa. Or wil they see it that we should still have his income?

What can i claim? Will they say that I left my job volenterily so cant claim? I am leaving to look after my LO and was on minimum wage so could never of afforded childcare, even if I wanted to.

Do I tell the HB that I am no longer getting mat pay after this month? And that my DH has moved out?

We pay £875 a month rent here and get about £35 pew week HB. So could never live on that.

Sorry its long, but really need the advice if possible.

phone them. tell them that dh has moved out (which he has) if he moves back in phone and tell them at that point.

i'm not sure on giving up work but i don't think HB is determined that way - job seekers is though.

As your circumstances are changing you'll be re-assessed for HB based on the new local housing allowance rates (see here)which may change how much you get but if you're on your own (which you are) then that will change the amount you get anyway.

hope it all works out

Don't tel them you won't be looking for work or you won't get jobseekers.

Although if DH isn't moving back in (or works less than 16hrs) you can get Income support.

have you tried entitledto.co.uk ? There are different sorts of Jobseekers which may or may not be relevant to you, but you need to be available to work which you aren't really if you are determined to look after lo fulltime , plus Income support, Tax Credits and HA see here. If you worked 16 hours a week you'd qualify for Child Tax Credits towards childcare costs.

Can you see CAB, Helpshop or similar to look at the options and whetehr you can manage? Is moving somewhere cheaper an option as Housing may well assess you as only needing a one bed place and pay accordingly? It may well be assumed that your dh continues to contribute whether that leaves him with enough for another property or not.

yes it may help to look at moving, but as you have a child (do you have more?) then you should be assessed as needing at least 2 bedrooms. if you have two children of the same sex then it's still only 2 beds.

You could give gingerbread a call which is a support line for single parents and they were fabuluous to me when i called and gave me so much information.

Have you checked out the lone parent section.

Call the tax credits office, and claim if you haven't already done so.

Call the HB office to report that your OH has left because you will be entitled to full HB and CTB if you are alone.

When the date for your maternity pay to finish is getting close then call the DWP claim line to put in a claim for income support. You don't need to look for work if you have a small child and instead of JSA you claim IS.