Splitting with hubby and moving into rented accommodation

[Midagemummy]

As above. We are having to sell our home to pay for debt racked up when hubby wasn’t working. Now have to go into rented accommodation. I have 14 year old twins, boy and girl. I don’t earn much but my husband earns a lot. I may have to claim housing benefits. Just wanted to know if anyone on here has had any similar experiences. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you 🙏

I don’t earn much but my husband earns a lot. I may have to claim housing benefits.

Why should the state pay to house you and your children and not their father if he earns a lot? Also, keep in mind that in many councils now, there is no housing benefit anymore. It's all under Universal Credit. You'll have to make a UC claim and comply with all the conditions, which are quite restrictive. Check your council's website. If it's a full-service UC area (and again, most are or will be by the end of 2018), then you need to claim UC to get the housing element.

you'll get more advice and support if you ask mumsnet to move this to the Relationships board. Good luck.

I went into rented when I split with my husband 4 years ago but my kids were younger. You need to speak to a lawyer 're child and possibly spousal maintenance and yes you will have to claim Universal Credit if you need help with rent. I think with 14 year olds they will expect you to work full time if you don't already.
I have found renting hugely stressful and in retrospect would have tried to cling on to the family home but if you can't you can't. I am finally now getting back on the housing ladder thanks to an inheritance.

Hi I do work, started my own business but it’s early days so not earning much.

UC is going to expect you to jack in your business if it's not turning over enough for you to live on. It's an absolute nightmare and LL's won't touch it with a 10-foot barge pole because it's so unreliable and also paid in arrears. There's also a 5 week wait with no money before you even get it. Even if you're still in a place that uses HB, it's only going to be until next year and then everything and everyone is going UC. Finding a LL who will take HB is very hard but finding one who'll take UC even worse. I would do anything and everything to avoid benefits of any sort because UC is a true shower of shit.

I've personally found UC to be fine, it isn't always a disaster. Nor has it stopped me getting a tenancy. I think that is more true for people whose only income is benefits than for those for whom it's a top up. But I agree that you only have a very limited time to make self employment work before they will make you get another job.