Going to CAB on weds.. need help <wail>.

[simpson]

My DH has suffered from mental health problems for the past yr or so and unfortunately it has now got to the stage where I have decided enough is enough

He has gone back to ireland (where his family is) and I don't know whether he will come back at all. He still has a job here but may not be well enough to return.

We have 2 DCs aged 3 & 1

I am a SAHM so am I up shit street financially??

We have a whopping great mortgage...

Antway, am going to CAB on weds and need help with the type of things I should be asking...am at a bit of a loss, sorry.

TIA

Whether you are eligible for:
housing benefit/council tax benefit
Incapacity benefit (been renamed but can't remember name sorry)
tax credits
income support if he stays away
statutory sick pay
any other money you maybe entitled to

any support they can offer for you

any support they can offer for dh

Take as much financial info as you have to hand. Latest 3 bank statements, latest mortgage statement, latest credit card statement, car, catalogue and other credit agreements. Also gather together a lit of other arrears you may have on utilities etc.

They will try and do some budgeting with you but if your financual situation is simply irretrievable they may advise bankruptcy or some other debt management procedure.

Look at the CAB Debt pages before you go so you can have a think about the route you might want to take out of the situation and can ask relevant questions.

I assuming all your debt is in joint names?

the only debt we have is mortgage. Which is in joint name (no credit cards, catalogues etc)

We have totally separate bank accounts

Don't drive, so don't need to worry about car/car insurance etc.

DH will not be allowed back in the house, so I am going it alone (my choice)

My main priority is keeping the house TBH.

in that case ask about any insurance that is available on your mortgage, income support, tax credits (don't forget to end your joint claim)council tax benefit

Going to ring tax credit people tomorrow as I have my annual update letter so will inform them.

Will they need proof DH is not living here anymore??

The first thing they will do is a buget plan with your income / outgoing's, it sounds fairly straight forward from your post as you are SAHM, with just mortgage, believe me this is straight forward compared to a lot of cases.

Contact WFTC asap, they will do it for you if you wish whilst you are their with the advisor, they will ask if DH is likely to be paying maintenance, but as you said he is ill and gone away I doubt they will take this into account, take as many financial records as you can, bank statements, utility bills, mortgage info etc get in touch with the council and get your council tax reduced, although you will likely be entitled to benefits as you have 2 children (unless you have a stash of cash under the bed) and this will be adjusted anyway, but it doesn't hurt to tell them asap. The mortgage will probably be the sticking point, if you have insurance quite often they have a waiting period of 3mths or so, and I expect they will haggle as your situation is the result of marital breakdown (or at least thats what they will prob try for), and I doubt the insurance policy would cover for this event. As houses arn't flying of the shelf at the moment, your lender might be happy to sit tight and get something rather than nothing, have you looked into the possibility of starting work, or do you have any ideas of what your future might entail, I know it's not a great time for you atm but you might be a little better off working, than on benefits, it's sad but true if you had a rented property you would be in a far better positon.

Oh just a thought if you can try and ask a friend to look after the little ones, you will be able to concentrate much better and CAB's don't tend to be very child friendly and the wait can be quite vexing for youngsters. Good luck