Sister left with 2 young kids - HELP and ADVICE

[sharnbird]

Hi My sister's boyfriend has left her after over 10 years. She has 2 boys 1 and 3 and doesn't work (hasn't since baby no. 1) She is only 27 but he has knocked all her confidence. I want to help in practical ways like how she gets legal advice and where to go to discuss benefits and maybe council housing (they are buying their apartment but he obviously pays the mortgage as she doesn't work)
Where do I begin to help????

She needs to claim Income Support tomorrow by calling 0800 0556688.

Is the Child benefit in her name.

Any discussion on maintenance? What does he want to do with the house. Is the mortgage interest only

OK, although older i was in a similar position last year.

The hardest thing when you are going through this with 2 small children is having the space and time to make all the necessary phonecalls etc when office hours are the childrens busiest time.

I would say the best way you could help is to go round and look after the children for a morning while so she can concentrate on all she needs to sort out.

1. Own bank account if does not have one.
2. Ring DWP and make an appointment to get income support
3. Ring Child tax credit and change/make a claim for a single person
4. Ring council tax office and apply for council tax benefit
5. Ring a solicitor re 1/2 hr free appointment - so she finds out where she stands re housing. (I think if it is a joint mortgage she should be able to stay put depending how much equity is in the property)

Make a claim through HV for milk tokens - very useful at the end of the month when money running low as can be used for milk, formula, fruit and veg

She is lucky to have a sister looking out for her.
Wishing her strength at this difficult time

Also after 13wks the DWP will pay the interest only on the mortgage. (although will take a while to come through)

Sorry my replies are so short. My hand is killing me to type.

Norks...great advice.