i am in process of spliting with wife after 20 odd years as she wants more "fredom" mid life crisis new youth new boobs hair extensions and looks good?
she is saying you keep kids sell house we could end up with £70,000 each maybe? i have 4 children betwwen 8-18 i would need to give up a well paying job in london about 50k year to do this and she is self empolyed and kept her eanings below threshold as she gets paid mainly cash, so what help can expect to get from benifits any help please
Hi roland
I am sorry to read that you are in the middle of a very horrible time, however I hope we can support you through this and may be at the end it might seem that all of this was the best solution!
I am wondering whether you would need to give up your job completely as there are many after school clubs and holiday clubs around to cover childcare. Do you know if your work offers compassionate leave, that you could take for a couple weeks when you need to sort out your situation?
To get information and advice about your personal benefit situation you will need to go to the 1-2-1 confidential email support service we offer. (Click on the blue).(You could just copy and paste your above message into the message box on the email page.)
I am wondering whether you would need to give up your job completely as there are many after school clubs and holiday clubs around to cover childcare. Do you know if your work offers compassionate leave, that you could take for a couple weeks when you need to sort out your situation?
Louise and my reply must have crossed over, so sorry to repeat her! It just goes to show that we are here for you! We will help you get through this :)
Hi
I'm sorry you're facing this. But please, don't agree to anything without seeking some advice. If the children are with you, you would be, in my opinion, be wanting more than a 50% share of things...
Sometimes it can be so easy to agree to things when you are reeling with the break up of a marriage.
Hi Roland
Sorry to hear about your situation. I think Louise and Anna's point about seeing if there is any compasionate leave/looking for childcare so you can still stay in your job is such a good idea.
If you were to give up your job and claim jobseekers there may be a case that they would consider you not eligible for jsa as you would have effectively made yourself unemployed - but your circumstances would be considered.
If you have more than £24,000 (I think) in savings you would only be eligible for contribution-based jsa, which is around £65 per week I think. You would need to attend the jobcentre regularly to sign and to have adviser interviews and you would need to show that you are actively seeking work, and apply for any suitable vacancies that the jobcentre give to you.
Hoping you can get some time off to sort out childcare issues.....
hi, Roland , you have been given great advice here , i am really sorry for the situation you are in at the moment ! you said your kids are inbetween 8-18 , if all of them are in full time education or 2-3 of them i believe you can check with www.direct.gov.uk if you live in the uk what benefits you are entitled too . sure start can offer advice regarding childcare ,so you don have to give your job up ,and i am sure your employer would be understanding in giving you some time off to sort everything out. its not brilliant and you all will have to work together and help yourselves to get the wheels going without your wife. no one sais it will be easy but things get better.
sparklinglime is right if you are going to be having the children you are entitled to more than half , so do take advice from a solicitor as its not just for your benefit but for the kids
keep in touch 
Hi roland,
As a single parent you can claim benefits according to means but the "system" expects that if your youngest child is aged 7 or more that you work or are looking for work (which means Job Seekers' Allowance and a certain amount of pressure to find a job, whether suitable or not) Therefore please do not rely on there being too much of a safety net for you in this instance. I would not rush to give up your job! but would concentrate initially on the practical details such as what childcare there is available for your younger ones and look at the viability of going part time where you are or getting a lower-paid job locally that fits round it.
Your children's mother would also be expected to contribute a percentage of her income towards their upkeep although it is hrad to prove income if someone is self-employed!
My initial suggestion is that you email our fab 1-2-1 Money Advice Service to get all the facts about what you could or could not claim.
How do you feel about the prospect of a separation and single parenthood?