Splitting from dp. No money, no job, 3 kids.

[TeenyfraeTroone]

Have also posted this in money and legal.

Have decided to call it a day.
Have a dd from a previous marriage(7) and 2 ds with dp(3+2)
Won't go into all the boring reasons why other than to say that he is tightfisted and doesn't communicate - a fact confirmed by several of his friends in the course of our relationship.
I am a trained nurse, but haven't worked for nearly 4 years since ds1 was born. 13 months between ds1 and ds2, so am a SAHM.
My car is paid for(by my parents)as is his.
He works away from home and earns about 4-5k a month. We have a large house(bought for 380k 3 yrs ago) and a small mortgage(73k)
He is 46, I am 40. I am a joint owner with him.
He gives me £700/month for food, clothes, petrol, mobile, christmas club and about £25/week of this, I spend on nursery care for ds1.
I put nothing into the house financially apart from 8k that my nan left me which paid for a new drive.
Ideally I will find somewhere to rent in the village I live in as my kids have a big social network here. My parents and sister also live here.
I have no desire to screw him at all, and knowing him he will have it all worked out.
I have been on the working families and child tax credit websites to get some info as to what I could expect and have put feelers out to get a job, albeit very part time.
My ex dh gives me nothing for dd1 as he claims to be unemployed, sees this big house and £££££signs and therefore thinks his responsibility ends in MacDonalds.
What do I do?

Thanks for such a quick reply. If you don't work at all are you entitled to anything or do you have to be working 16 hours?

Second vote here for going to see CAB - they will be able to tell you exactly what your benefit entitlements are as well help with the legal situ regarding the house etc.

You won't get help with childcare costs if you work less than 16 hours (as far as I am aware).

Hope 2008 sees you happier.

if you don`t work at all then you are entitled to income support and child tax credits, if you claim income support you are also entitled to housing benefit and also coucil tax hope this helps

If you own the house as joint tenants then you own half of the equity, irrespective of who paid the bills. if you own it as tenants in common you will own a proportion of it, but your solicitor should have advised you bou this when you bought the house, so if you don't know its likely you own it as joint tenants.

Are some of your children his children? if so, you can (through a solicitor/courts) get him to provide housing for his children until they reach the age of 18 (and therefore housing for you as their carer).

there is a website www.entitledto.co.uk which will help you work out which benefits you are entitld to in different scenarios eg different working hours/wages etc.

hope it all works out ok for you.

Thanks all. Kerri, have tried all those websites and they always come up with a set of possible answers that don't match me.
ie, not split yet, don't know income as not working yet, don't know poll tax as not moved yet!!!
Will have to visit CAB I think