Introducing myself

Hello,
I find myself here, as I have a lot of questions, and as I dont have many friends / family, I dont have many answers.
I will post my issues when I get more time (I work long hours & strange shifts)
Basically, I'm 44, I've been separated since July, I was told by my wife (of 20 years) that I wasnt wanted any more in May.
We have 2 teenage daughters, 18 & 14, the eldest lives with me in the family home.
Everythings still up in the air, nothing is sorted as regards the separation/divorce.
I've briefly seen a solicitor, and got some basic advice, but for now, I'm paying for both households, as my ex doesnt earn much. This cant continue, as I'm running out of savings.

So anyway... hello, and I will be back looking for advice/support in due course.

Thanks, David

Hello David,
Similar position to you, in that after a 19 year relationship and 16 years married with 4 children, my wife dumped me and started an affair.
Eighteen months later I moved out into rented accom. as she continued the affair.

Your wife should be able to claim tax credits and council tax benefit if her earnings are low. In my case my wife was able to acheive an income of around 1800 a month including her part time work. This by the way was greater than my basic salary that I raised our family on for many years when she didn't work.
So if you haven't already done so please check out the figures by going to the website Entitled to.

Hopefully you should be able to retain those savings for the meantime.

David

Hallo

This site www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits...herSupport/index.htm explains about benefits etc and who is entitled to them.

As for not having family and friends - if you did, you'd be given umpteen different conflicting opinions about what to do.

Read the posts on here and the blogs and you'll find you are certainly not the only person in this position.

Nell

Thanks for the replies, I've spoken with my ex today, she should start getting benefits soon, we're at a disadvantage because we have savings. I will start paying into a separate account for them when these start. I'll look on the maintenance calculator, &
see if we can agree an amount to start with,
At least then I'll know how much money I have at
the end of the month.
So things are moving, lots of good information on
here, just knowing where to start is quite
difficult!

thanks again