Purely an informed guess though it may sound harsh:
If you have had the mortgage for before a certain date, i cannot remember what that is tho, the mortgage interest
will be paid by the DSS after a Short qualifying period, assuming she has been to get support. if it was after that date the interest is not paid for a long time and u will have to help her to avoid arrears and adverse credit rating to you both.
The council tax will be sorted out if she has filled out an application for Council tax benefit.
With four children though I imagine you have been in receipt of working tax credit, which if she is not working and u are you will have had to adjust to your new circumstances, the childrens tax credit is the same.
She will only have the Child Benefit and income support and maintenance off yourself to manage on.
She will be able to get a form from the court for an interim maintenance order for her and the children and if she is on benefit this will likely not cost her anything.
The children can stay in the marital home until the youngest leaves full time education and so i would prepare yourself for a long haul, maybe when the children are older she can return to work and then claim WTC and CTC in her own right and come off benefits but until then I suggest you show your children how supportive and loving their dad is to them and remain a consistent and loving part of their lives, and think yourself lucky you can give them that.
Dotty
xxxx
It does sound harsh doesn't it? sorryx