Initial Financial cost of leaving

[HappyCamperTent]

I work but I would struggle to afford the costs of running a house alone.

Do people apply for universal credit as a single person before they are officially single?… To help with the initial financial cost of leaving?

You say you are married but it's his house: have you had advice about what you would be entitled to so you could stay until the house is sold and assets split in whatever way is legally set out?

It’s still all very new and up in the air. I’m thinking through and changing my thoughts as I go

I claimed UC the day I moved out and prior to that took out an overdraft for rent and deposit. I also asked for the equivalent of one month's rent upfront in the form of an advance payment (can be used for anything essential related to the move ie furniture, white goods, bedding). Good luck .If you pay the rent and deposit before the UC is paid, they repay it to you v.quickly.

I know housing benefit is part of UC now but when I claimed it when I left, and if you owned a property you couldn’t get help with rent costs

The fact that the house is in your husbands name only will work out in your favour.

If you want to make a start on things - go and see the local housing authority and get yourself on the list there. Thats a start.