Split from husband, but living together. Does anyone know if you can separate Universal Credits?

[ChristmasSnowCookie]

I told my husband I wanted a divorce on December 2nd, 2020. He's making it very difficult for me to leave and I have no funds to do so myself. We live in a grotty council maisonette. It would be easier for me to move out with our 3 children as I want him to have somewhere affordable to have the kids, and I want my kids living somewhere better than where we currently are. He works 20hrs a week. I have just finished full time education and was looking for work, until I had a breakdown. I'm now on the road to recovery but need to find a way out for me and the kids.

We are on universal credits. We were originally told nothing would change until we loved separately but friends have said that they can separate them whilst still under the same roof. Does anyone know if this is true? Or have any information.

CAB say report that your split up, that will end the joint claim and start a separate one but you need to advise them that you still reside same address.

You should stay at the current place if it's a council flat and he should leave. The council would prioritise a woman and her children over a single man. I'd speak to them and see if he can be taken off the lease as you've split. Worth a try.

Fuck him. Is he making life easier by considering you? Is he shit. I'd do all I could to get him out.

As for universal credit, why not just nip down the job centre and ask them? We can only guess.

I can see why you've had a breakdown if you have lived with this man for over 2 years even though you've split though.

Id have left myself after 6 months if I couldn't get him out. Even if it meant he had primary care of the kids till I got myself sorted somewhere. Fuck being controlled by some asshat. Do you have family you could stay with?

Actually, I call his bluff.

Go down stairs tomorrow morning acting all happy and go 'I've found a room to move to so I'm moving out soon. You'll have to be primary caregiver for a while cause I'm shifting to just a room'. Que him freaking out.

Then you go 'oh well you're free to move out if you want. It just seemed that you wanted to stay here. And obviously I can't keep the kids where I'm going. It's just be for 6 months or so. Maybe till i save up for a place of my own. You can't take care of the kids on your own for 6 months?'

Give him time to think. And shit himself.
Let him come to the conclusion that HE could leave you with the kids at this house instead.

Ps: don't have this convo with thr children around as he may try to use them to manipulate you ('mummy's leaving you' ect).

I personally wouldn’t call his bluff that could backfire massively. I would go to citizens advice. Could you rent privately and move that way? Have you been to the council to ask for help?

I think you are trying to achieve too many things op. You and your children have a roof over your heads, that's all that matters.

He needs to leave and you stay in the maisonette. Waiting lists for housing are long than eternity itself and you need to concentrate on getting yourself better before you can think about moving.

@ChristmasSnowCookie

Welfare rights advisor here. Yes you can make a single claim and declare that you are separating. However UC will likely review it in 6 months to see what steps are being taken to separate.

if it is a joint tenancy then they will only pay your 50% of the housing costs and he would have to make a separate claim and claim for the other 50% of housing costs.

In the meantime, you need to you need to separate any joint accounts and other joint attachments that you possibly can.

As for the housing, I would contact the local LA and ask what would happen if you have a joint tenancy and request to have your name taken off, does that end the tenancy for both of you?

Also remember to contact Council Tax as well.

Thank you, I was just going to call them and ask. Do you know if there is any help availablefor me to private rent a property?

I get this but the property is a shithole. Its so mouldy with constant leaks. I contacted an MP recently as the state of it is horrendous and they have advised we call environmental health as the council aren't doing anything about it. My son has just been diagnosed with allergies to these moulds. I just want netter for my children.

I have brought up me leaving to my husband 4 times now. 3 times he threatened to kill himself and the 4th time, which was a couple of days ago, he just stopped replying and went to sleep. He won't speak to me face to face and will only talk on Facebook which pisses me off even more.

I've absolutely had enough of him. I have no family to turn to and neither does he. I hate feeling so stuck. He is miserable as sin.

You would qualify for the housing benefit part of UC. There is a cap on how much they pay towards your rent, which varies by your location. Don't be surprised if it doesn't cover 100% of your rent. Generally, your better off being in council/housing association that private rented though, so only give that up as a last resort.

Also, depending on the ages of children, UC may expect you to work/be looking for work. If the youngest is under school age no work expectation, primary aged and it's usually 25 hours a week, once the youngest hits secondary school I think they expect you to work full time. UC also has a childcare element, if that helps you work the hours needed, so they may help you cover costs towards that as well.

Could you contact woman's aid?

I don't think the question should be can you split the universal credit but how can you get your own place and start to build a new life for you and the children.

Focus on your mental health. Not his.

Get the child benefit in your name and the single person universal credit started.

Then leave, speak to woman's aid. The suicide threats are emotional abuse with holding money from you financial abuse.

Thank you, im happy to work. I just finished a 3 year course at college and was applying for jobs before my breakdown. I'm not 100% better but I imagine I will be in the next 3-4 weeks. My youngest is 5 so in school full time.

This is pretty much it. If I could just find a private rented property, I'd be so happy.

I have contacted women's aid previously. They only wanted to kick him out and get a non-molestation order. I want to private rent my own place ideally.

You could ask for a refuge place as a means of leaving.

Some councils do a rent deposit loan scheme to help you move to private if you are leaving an abusive relationship.

I think you should have accepted women's aids help. Beggars can't be choosers. You can always find a new place once he is gone. But instead you've stayed with him AND in the very place you dont want to be. Your cutting off your nose to spite your face really.

He has nowhere to go either. I don't want him out on the streets. I want him to be able to have a place that he can have the children. They love their dad and whilst I'm not in love with him, I still care about him and want him to get himself in a good place.

I will ask about it. Thank you.