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hi need some advice
split with ex 2 months ago and now im claiming esa and in a private rented house the rent is £500 a month and i get £78 a week towards rent and get £280 per month for esa so after all that and the rest i have to put towards rent i get approx £40 so use on food bills etc
i have 4 children who come to me 3 times a week and sleep once a week so this is even harder with only £40 per month disposable income
is there any other benefits or help i could get ?
If your ex is working you can claim off your ex in some case, due to significant financial hardship, help with the cost of maintaining contact that is benificial to the siblings. This is an area woth looking into, also if you have contact maybe you should consider a shared care application (devision of time) then should this be granted by the court it can open the door to other area's of financial assistance.
Citizens Advice is a good starting point. some solicitors specialise in benifits, check out the solicitors in your local area for free advice.
Goodness me Kenzie, are you saying that if a parent is raising 4 children and working to do this, which unless the youngest is under 5 they would be. Then could be made to pay towards their ex's living expenses also?
That seems completely bizarre.
Are you also suggesting that shaune riding considers going for a shared care application, so that they can get more financial assistance? I think the onus should be on providing the best for the children rather than what is for the ex partner surely?
Hello shaune riding , we are here for parents who have the main care of the children but as far as I am aware there is no other help you can get....there is child benefit and child tax credit for each child but that will go to the parent with the main care. I do think the system is unfair as many parents without majority care (often dads) are plunged into poverty as a result.
The only thing I can suggest is that you decide whether your health issues are sufficient to apply for Disability Living Allowance. If you are having to feed the children each time they come (3 times a week) you could ask their mum if they could bring a picnic tea.....but that might not go down very well.
Is there any possibility of renting a cheaper place so that you do not have to put so much towards rent each week? That is the real bugbear here. I presume your council tax is also covered, and make sure you are on the cheapest tariff for power. You could also get a food parcel from a local foodbank (see here) but this would be short term and not every week.
Sorry but that is all the help I can give you...the key to it seems to be your housing situation and that might mean not having the children overnight if you have a lot less space.