Welfare benefits are often a key but overlooked aspect of advising clients following separation. Changes in circumstances can have a significant impact on eligibility, particularly in legally aided cases where even modest fluctuations in income or capital can affect entitlements.
Our pupil Natalya Evans has prepared a clear and accessible tabular guide setting out how key welfare benefits may be affected by separation. The guide covers issues such as the treatment of spousal maintenance in Universal Credit, when capital from the family home may be taken into account and what support clients might newly qualify for as their situation changes.
It is designed as a practical resource for family practitioners, whether assisting in negotiations or advising on the broader financial implications of separation.