I am looking for some advice to support a friend (I say friend but not close more friends out of circumstance, my DH knows her H) as I really have no idea how to help her or where she can get help from.
The situation is quite complex and I have tried a couple of times to formulate an understandable description which is not too long and failed!
Friend is from Lithuania, lived here for 3.5 years, has a son (11) who has lived here for 2.2 years. The husbands from ME, tried to claim asylum many times but failed, tried to make other various applications but failed so has no visa or right to work. We know him as my Dh sold his shop a few years back to his cousin (it actually turned out that it was only his cousins on paper as the husband is here illegally) so he owns a business - which was in good shape when we sold it and as far as I can tell still is (I still work there a couple of times a week)- my point being I am aware he has money.
This couple have been together 2.5 years, loved together (with the 11 year old) for 1.5 years, got married in june and are expecting a baby in 2 months time.
Last week my DH asked me to pop in to their house and speak to the wife as there was some problems with housing benefit and it has not been paid for the last 2 months and she wanted some help understanding the letters/someone to go to the council with her.
Her housing and council tax benefit have been stopped and they are seeking recovery of an overpayment around £700. the husband has paid the rent for one of the 2 months that have not been paid this months rent has not been paid at all. According to the council (and CAB) they do not have to pay her housing benefit or council benefit at all as she left her job voluntarily at 19 weeks pregnant and even though she is now 32 weeks and receiving maternity allowance this is not a benefit which automatically qualifies you for HB. According to CAB as she didn't claim JSA or IS between leaving her job and getting MA she lost her workers status and in therefore not entitled to any benefits (inc. tax credits).
After we had been to the CAB we went for a coffee and a chat as I could see this woman was upset. She confided in me that apart from the one months rent that this man has never paid for rent and if she has asked for money for shopping since she left work he argues shouts and then walks out.
She told me that when she found out she was pregnant he told her to terminate and the rowed about it and he hit her, her son went to school upset and she was called in. SS were called but she managed to convince them she left him so they went away. She told me the night before I met with her to go to CAB that he had hit her 3 times as they were arguing about money (benefits) and about him being seen with another woman. He tried to throw her and her son out (house in her name!) and said when baby is born he will send it to his country. If she cooks and it has too much or too little salt he gets angry and throws all the food in the bin other shitty behaviour.
The short story is that she has claimed housing benefit and council tax benefit, child and working tax credit and child benefit as a single parent since he son arrived here, even though she had been living with a partner and from june this year he became her husband. the husband is an illegal immigrant who has a business, has applied for a visa saying he has a wife and they live together but sends his wife to claim benefits as he doesn't want to pay for anything as he says he has no money but drives a £8,000 BMW and has been sending money to his country for his family to build a house (I have seen this 1/2 completed house when we visited my DH's family and wen to visit them, it is like a luxury villa and apparently he has paid about 50,000 us dollars so far).
I told friend to kick him out, call police have him removed but she says she has no choice but to stay as she is not entitled to benefits and won't be able to afford anything so must put up with him hitting her when she asks for money or he has to pay rent.
I told her womens aid could help her get away and get divorced maybe get something to say he can't take the baby from the country (I know he has no papers so can't do so himself but apparently there are loads of people who will do it for him!) She is scared to go to womens aid because she has been committing benefit fraud and is worried about potentially going to prison for that even tough she has I believed been forced to do so.
I don't know what else to say or do for her. I don't know her that well but she needs someone now and it looks like that may be me so if anyone would be kind enough to point me in the right direction for help for her or things I can do/ say to help I will be very grateful