am i entitled to any benefits ?

We are currently going through divorce proceedings and still living under the same roof....mediation are trying to sort our financial situation. Can anyone advise if I am entitled to any tax credits I only work 8 hours a week but was told I could get family tax credit even though we are still living together.????

Have a look at www.entitledto.co.uk and/or make an appointment with the benefits adviser in your local CAB office, who will be able to advise you fully on your entitlement.

Hi! 146pace
yes you can get child tax credit and working tax credit explain your situation to them they may contact you after a couple of months to check that this is still the case I just had to send a copy of my nisa

I claimed child tax credits whilst living under the same roof - my solicitor wrote a letter stating although we were under the same roof we were living separately until financial details sorted out.
I was able to claim the full amount of CTC and they may back date it up to 3 months I think depending how long you''ve been living separately.

Thanks for the reply I''m seeing solicitor Friday ...fingers crossed .

Good Luck - your solicitor will probably say he''s knows nothing about benefits but he/she could write a letter for you - or check with CTC yourself before you go if a letter is acceptable and how they want it wording. I divorced a few years ago it might have changed what they accept. I did everything with CTC over the phone apart from sending the letter and it was fairly easy - I also got my payments back dated 3 months!!

I find it hard to believe that a divorce solicitor knows nothing about benefits.

You should be entitled to child tax credit, and don''t forget child benefit as well.

Working tax credit, as its name implies, suggests that you must work a minimum number of hours per week unless you are disabled.

In addition if you have responsibility for a child it may entitle you to claim extra on income support or jobseekers allowance.

This can be important because it could entitle you to the so called passport benefits like free school meals, which can be quite valuable.

You will need to consider help with housing costs, including council tax benefit.

So you see, there is quit a fair bit that you need to know.

Free advice can be obtained if you make an appointment with a CAB. It is important that you maximise your benefits. But universal credit is being rolled out and the rules may have changed.

LMM