Distressing Development

CAB - yes definitely. Hanging on to his NI number - crucial. And - your local social services department may employ their own welfare benefits adviser, as well as their children/families departmental staff , who can be very supportive.

Good luck

My DD2 going through the same with her ex partner, he's out the house and left her with lots of debt including fraudulently setting up account in her name and bank details with Virgin Media to which she had no access. Fortunately Virgin have been very helpful and sorted it for her. She went to Woman's aid for help and advice before kicking him out (drugs, aggression, refusal to work) and they suggested Christians Against Poverty to help with the debt problem and they have been great. They help organise a plan for repayment and look after the plan for you including any demanding letters. It is a charity and you don't have to be a Christian to ask for their help. She now sees a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel.

www.gov.uk/calculate-your-child-maintenance

Handy tool. The links also point you to how and where to file a claim.

Good luck.

Citizens Advice is the place to visit for expert advice.

All that advice already offered is great.
He's a quitter so make sure he doesn't vanish by getting her to hang onto his N.I number as with this he can be traced to any place where he is paying NI contributions or claiming benefits.

Thank you all for your sound advice. She kicked him out last night. They have made childcare arrangements and she has contacted the Benefits Agency. Her work hours will increase from September, when the little one will be in full time playschool. She is fitting the hours around that as much as she can. She has a good job, with prospects - she doesn't want to have to give it up! We will also contact Citizens Advice and take up some of the other suggestions. I believe he will pay her maintenance (although he will moan). He does love his daughter so hopefully he will stick to their agreement. He thinks he will have a life of less responsibility - he is sadly mistaken. And Quizqueen - you can't always tell a man is going to be unsuitable. On the surface he wasn't! They were good friends, he works hard and they were together three years with a shared home when the little one came along! And unfortunately, with low wages so prevelant, even truely lovely and deserving families sometimes have to rely on the taxpayer - of which they are also!

Hi ,you need some professional advice,pronto! Book a appointment with citizens advice ,get all your daughter's bills,rent ongoing and outgoings written down,so you can show this! She will get help!
Until you get this appointment ,if there are any pressing bills,ring them on her behalf with her their to give consent,tell them what has happened,and that she is really struggling and you need to help her.
Write down who you phoned,and when and what they said,it helps to recall when your stressed and upset.
Your daughter will need a lot of help to get her back on her feet,can she live with you for a while,so she has support.

With your help younwill be able to get assistance,I did for my daughter,and things will get better.

She is far better without this useless childish non man,he will will get it back ,karma does that,when he is a sad,lonely man ,who women won't touch with a bargepole,he will realise what he has done ,and too late!

Keep pushing for help ,it takes some shoving to get the help,work together,as she will feel very low,and your granddaughter will be unsettled,.
Little kids recover well ,when her mum is happy ,she will be too! Good luck to you!

wow quizqueen I dont for a second think she'll have chosen an "unsuitable man" life happens dont you know.Its not always about bad choices ,they were right when she made them but people ...in particular men, often decide to go awol .My own daughters oh did this a number of years ago and he hasn't paid for the 2 children he left behind CSA are less than useless.The ex has another family and has even brainwashed his oldest child into thinking he needs to concentrate on his NEW family as the ones he left have a good stepfather who has provided for them for nearly 9 years .My daughter soon sorted that out,GS now understands that his "father" shouldn't have left kids behind and then had more all the while claiming poverty .

Typo-not a nice thing to go through

I think it's for the better. Not a big thing to go through but she'll pull through. So wonderful to see that you are asking advice on how to support her during this time.

knickas63
I echo quizqueens advice. As long as he's still living there she will get no help at all.
When he's out for good with all his stuff, your DD must inform the council tax dept and she will get a 25% reduction from that date until the start of the next tax year when she renews it.
As for the UC, it depends in whose name it was paid.
If in your DDs name then she will have to come to an arrangement with them to pay it back.
When she rings them (0800-328-5644/9344) there is an option to choose 'change of circumstances' which takes you to the correct department.

Remember...while he's there, no help will be available.
If she needs help with rent, there is a hoysing benefit ceiling and the amount is dependent on where in the borough she lives.
She will likely be told to finsmd smaller property, 1 bedroom if the child is a girl under 10 (I think it's 10 but check and yes, you have to share) and 2 bedrooms if child is older or a boy over a certain age.
Advise her to sort out bank statements showing how much she paid in and toward savings as it will save time later.

I use to work for CAB and I can tell you they will work out your entitlement and advise you well. Please go with your daughter and put your minds at rest. As for over payment, well when you are sure you owe it and not before, offer £5 a week and that will keep the wolf from the door. Once again CAB can help and advise on the over payment.

Citizens Advice will do a benefit check and help liaise with agencies re rent, council tax , maintenance payment, benefit claim and possible appeal.

They also usually have debt advisers who can help to deal with any debts the couple may have and in producing a budget plan.

I'm sorry to hear about yet another ass who walks. Your daughter will survive but she needs to go to the citizen's advice pdq...urgently. They will help her sort out the financial side of things and advise on free child care etc. I hope your DD has blocked him from taking any more money out of the bank. Was it a joint account?
She also needs to set the legal wheels in motion re child upkeep as tbe DSS will want his details so they can pursue him through the courts if he doesn't respond to you.
She needs to tell them where he works and his new address, DOB and NI number (if known) also his parents address, in case he moves there.
They can apply for an AEO (attachment of earnings order) which will enable the amount ordered by the court to be taken out of his earnings by his employer BEFORE his pay goes into his bank account. His employer has to comply with this and an AEO goes into all his financials and he will have to provide bank statements, savings, earnings and outgoings as ordered by the court. If he doesn't, he'll be jailed.
Urge your DD to get the ball rolling right away.
Lots of good wishes to both of you.

It sounds like he needs to move out immediately as she won't be able to claim anything as a single parent while he's still there. It's his problem where he lives. Then she can claim single occupancy council tax and perhaps consider moving to a cheaper two bedroom property when her rental lease expires.

If 'they' as a couple owe money back for UC then surely that debt should be shared and the onus not your daughter entirely. It is unfortunate that women continue to choose and have children with unsuitable men and then the taxpayer has to pick up the bill.

Don't know much about these things, but would think she needs to get onto CSA to make sure he is made to pay the correct support for the child.

Apart from all the excellent advice, assuming your daughter has accepted the break-up and is trying to find a way through the emotional and financial morass, she ought to ask her bank for advice. They may be able to help her budget well and make some savings.

She also needs to tell this drop-out in no uncertain terms that as he has called off their engagement he can b. well move out today, rather than tomorrow. If he refuses, get a locksmith, change the locks, pack his belongings and put them outside the locked door. Your daughter and GC can surely stay with you for a few days, until he has removed his things.

Hope this helps get hold of the national debt line i think its based in Birmingham had similar problems with my son all resolved now good advice and template letters.
she needs to get on with it now

Well rid of him.

My daughter in similar position. Child tax credits told her she owes £8,000! Problem is her ex didn’t remove himself from electoral role etc so all his post is still going to address and they believe he still lives there. She is in process of supplying proof he no longer lives with her. Some areas hold benefit clinics which luckily we have so she is going there for advise and then citizens advice if they are unable to help. As always it’s the women left holding the babies. If he is still at address this may be the problem for her. Hope this helps.

Thank you Misadventure. And I totally agree notanan2!

They have made universal credits so "glitchy" on purpose IMO to force people to try to manage without it. Every single person I know who has claimed had been made to repay "overpayments" even when they kept their details up to date.

You have a very limited time to appeal a UC overpayment, like a month I think, and if you go down that route and fail you then have to pay the total lump sum because you will have missed the window to arrange a payment plan: so most people just chose to arrange a payment plan even if they know its UC in the wrong. Payment plans can be as little as £20/month (compaired to their demands for lump sums thats not too bad)

Hmmmm..
Not sure the link gives the info I wanted it to, but I have a leaflet here.
They give advice about budgeting, benefit entitlement and appeals, health and wellbeing, and consumer rights.
I just copied that from the leaflet.
The number is 0800 288 8883.

www.peabody.org.uk/about-us/contact/former-fm

When I typed in Hampshire, Southampton came up, but I don't know how close that is to you?
They really are very knowledgeable about all aspects, so they can be presented with the whole scenario and will know the best way forward.

Hampshire?