How can I afford to leave?

[coaldusty]

I have good reason to leave my husband. There's nobody else involved but I just can't cope with things anymore and I don't want to be with him.

I work part time and can't go full time because of health. I'm not entitled to any benefits but get the tax credits and child benefit into my account each month. I pay for virtually everything in the house including: food, most of the bills, clothes, shoes, stuff for the dcs etc. My husband doesn't work but receives some money every month from two rental properties.

I can afford to live but not afford to rent or buy somewhere. We have no mortgage where we are. I have done the sums and don't see how I can afford to leave We'd end up with virtually nothing to actually live on. I don't know whether I'd be entitled to any benefits. My monthly net income is about £1600. Rent would be about £400 and there'd be all the bills, council tax etc.

I'd receive no child support if I did leave because my husband doesn't have enough money. I have two children, both at school.

What can I do? I don't know how much longer I can stand it here. I'm already on medication and having counselling because of this living situation. There's no abuse involved just endless tension and conflict and it's making me depressed and wearing me down. I need to be able to run my small car in order to get to work.

I have good reason to leave my husband. There's nobody else involved but I just can't cope with things anymore and I don't want to be with him.

I work part time and can't go full time because of health. I'm not entitled to any benefits but get the tax credits and child benefit into my account each month. I pay for virtually everything in the house including: food, most of the bills, clothes, shoes, stuff for the dcs etc. My husband doesn't work but receives some money every month from two rental properties.

I can afford to live but not afford to rent or buy somewhere. We have no mortgage where we are. I have done the sums and don't see how I can afford to leave We'd end up with virtually nothing to actually live on. I don't know whether I'd be entitled to any benefits. My monthly net income is about £1600. Rent would be about £400 and there'd be all the bills, council tax etc. I need to be able to run my small car in order to get to work.

I'd receive no child support if I did leave because my husband doesn't have enough money. I have two children, both at school.

What can I do? I don't know how much longer I can stand it here. I'm already on medication and having counselling because of this living situation. There's no abuse involved just endless tension and conflict and it's making me depressed and wearing me down.

Do you live in a bought and paid for house that you both own? If so surely that would be sold and the profit shared equally giving you a lump sum which would enable you to rent somewhere.

You may well get help with rent and council tax via housing benefit.

We could sell but I don't know how long the money would last for me to rent somewhere. It would run out after a while. I could do with buying somewhere but don't know if I would get a mortgage because my income isn't huge.

Are you sure that you cannot live on £1,600 pcm?
I am about to find myself separated with 2 teenagers and I earn £200 less than that. And rent around here is more like £600...but I am assuming that I will be able to achieve paying rent and for basic living. What choice is there?

I hope you're wrong otherwise I am stuffed!
I also have health issues and depression so I do empathise. x

I don't know if I could live on that. It doesn't seem much. I'm sorry that you don't have much.

IM single living alone, I take home less than both of you and get housing benefit.

Use an online calculator to check what you would be entitled to.

I will have a look for the calculator.

I think you could live well on that

But to rent you will need month advance rent and deposit

See a solicitor as the owned properties will be part yours too. He will have to find a job. He needs to be paying maintenence

Go on here www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

Also if you have a decent deposit to put on a new house from the equity in your old house, you should be able to borrow a fair wack mortgage wise.

With two children you will still get tax credits and possibly help towards the mortgage interest payments.

Also watch every penny...avoiding 'leaky money' makes a huge difference

Who does the bulk of childcare? School runs etc?

Sorry, Go on here www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

I have done a quick estimation on the website and I'm not entitled to anything more than I'm getting with the child benefit and tax credits.

I do most of the child care and school runs. He looks after them when I'm at work. He comes with me to do the school runs if he wants to.

Of course you can live on £1600.

And your husbands rental income is subject to 20% if you take the CSA route.

I must say that I am pleased that the general concensus is that it can be done on that salary. That makes my situation seem possible too.
I hope that's good news for you coaldusty.

perhaps he will give me some discount if I rent one of his properties

Hmmm....

Maybe he should move into one of his properties and leave you in situ in the marital home?

Don't give up before you've begun; make an appointment with a solicitor who specialises in divorce and family law and who offers a free half an hour initial consultation so that you can establish what you may coexpect by way of financial resolution/settlement if you end your marriage.

If you cannot canvas personal recommendations from family/friends, contact your nearest WA office who should be able to give you a list of specialist solicitors in your area - visit www.womensaid.org.uk to find your local branch and give them a call.