Have Equity In 2 Houses. Benefit Entitlement?

[Rudderstick]

Friends wife earns much more than him. She wants out of their 15 year marriage. Friend has reduced his working hours since the arrival of their 3 year old. Wife wants him to rent a home for himself and claim Universal Credit. Wife will remain in family home and share child 50/50. They also have a 50% share in a buy to let. I smell a rat but unsure why. Your comments would be appreciated hated.

[Guilbert53]

If your friend is looking after the child tell him to tell HER to move out the house.

Note if he moves out voluntarily he may be accused of making himself "homeless" so may not get any benefits.

He has the upper hand, tell him not to let he push him around, she cant FORCE him to move out the house.

p.s. A moan at her, but it does annoy me when people abuse the benefits system for their own benefit (if you know what I mean).

[Guilbert53]

Whoops

>>>tell him not to let HER push him around

[AuntLydia]

My comment it its best left to them, it's their business .

[AuntLydia]

sorry pressed send before I'd finished. It would be hard to work out if your friend was entitled to benefit, it would depend on if he declared the income from the BTL

[Rudderstick]

Guilbert57 Thank you for reading this. He is desperately trying to hold on to this marriage and doing all be can to please her.
He won't go to a solicitor as his wife says she doesn't want that yet!

[woofgang]

well if he owns a house and a half, I can't see him getting any benefits....buit yes he needs proper legal advice and you need to stay well clear

[ladybirder]

I bet she doesn't; she will know a solicitor would advise against him voluntarily giving up his home. And she wants him to live on benefits while she keeps her salary and home and if they have 50/50 care of the child then I guess she won't have to pay him anything. And who has the rent from the half in a buy to let? Let me guess.
If it was my friend I would personally drag him to see a solicitor, first thing tomorrow Rudderstick.

[Rudderstick]

Thank you for your suggestions.
Very difficult. I find it very upsetting as they adopted last year.

[david small]

Ye Gods, some people take the biscuit, the tin, and the delivery van. They adopted?

[Rudderstick]

Yes it is awful. They have agreed to 'share' the child (aged2) as neither want the child full time. I'm disgusted by this. Not popular as I've said so.

[ladybirder]

Jeez Rudderstick it gets worse by the minute. So sorry, very difficult for you.

[Rudderstick]

Well Ladybirder I'm just standing by but can't bear some of the crazy things she wants. My friend doesnt want to upset her(!) He thinks he might win her back. But it's only prolonging the agony and the child will pick up on the tension.

[AuntLydia]

I have read of married couples pretending to split so that the one not earning, or earning a small wage, will move into supported accommodation and claim Benefits. They then share married life between the family home and the rented one. I'm not suggesting this is the case, but this does happen ,and maybe this is the 'rat' you are smelling?

[Peter Pedant]

hmm solicitor is a waste of money at this stage
until there is a break up - if there is a child involved, then tht might be inevitable

I think a quick whizz down to the CAB - I am not sure if Plan A will work purely from the income point of view (they arent eligible now so why would he be eligible when he moves)