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Don't know where to even start!

Apologies it's a long one.
I decided to retire in 2016, I handed in my intention and then I had an injury at work resulting in me now becoming disabled.
I took my pension and retired from my job.
I then left my husband last year and moved into council property.
I was advised to gift my children some money which I did because we would be starting divorce proceedings etc. He still lives in the house. We have no dependant children.
I had mental health and domestic violence charities involved. They took me to the council to apply for council tax reduction. it was refused due to the savings that I currently had other than the money gifted.
I've used those savings over the last 10 months to pay my rent as I am only in receipt of my workplace pension and PIP.
I then moved into another council property this year and again a charity took me to apply for council tax reduction which was refused due to the initial savings I gifted.
They then took me to apply for UC, which I was refused due to the savings from last year.
But I am not eligible for UC also because I would be eligible for SDP.
My current savings are dwindling fast due to paying rent etc, whilst my estranged husband lives in the house only paying bills. I have started divorce proceedings.
My current savings are under £6k but there are the savings I gifted last year which were over £16k.
I didn't claim anything when I retired, so have not paid any income-related contributions for 3 years.
I appreciate if I have savings I shouldn't need any benefits, but I have another 3 years until I can claim my state benefit and I wanted my children to have some money as I did when my parents died. The savings won't last much longer, maybe another year or 18 months if I get the savings back from my children.
I should have claimed for my contributions to be paid even if not claiming benefits (contribution based) when I retired but I had no idea, that I could even do that.
Also what about the house? Could it be disregarded even if it been over 6 months since I left, as divorce proceedings have started?
Is there anything I can do even if it's just to get my contributions up to date as I can pay the voluntary ones up to now, but then there is still the next 3 years?
I decided to retire in 2016, I handed in my intention and then I had an injury at work resulting in me now becoming disabled.
I took my pension and retired from my job.
I then left my husband last year and moved into council property.
I was advised to gift my children some money which I did because we would be starting divorce proceedings etc. He still lives in the house. We have no dependant children.
I had mental health and domestic violence charities involved. They took me to the council to apply for council tax reduction. it was refused due to the savings that I currently had other than the money gifted.
I've used those savings over the last 10 months to pay my rent as I am only in receipt of my workplace pension and PIP.
I then moved into another council property this year and again a charity took me to apply for council tax reduction which was refused due to the initial savings I gifted.
They then took me to apply for UC, which I was refused due to the savings from last year.
But I am not eligible for UC also because I would be eligible for SDP.
My current savings are dwindling fast due to paying rent etc, whilst my estranged husband lives in the house only paying bills. I have started divorce proceedings.
My current savings are under £6k but there are the savings I gifted last year which were over £16k.
I didn't claim anything when I retired, so have not paid any income-related contributions for 3 years.
I appreciate if I have savings I shouldn't need any benefits, but I have another 3 years until I can claim my state benefit and I wanted my children to have some money as I did when my parents died. The savings won't last much longer, maybe another year or 18 months if I get the savings back from my children.
I should have claimed for my contributions to be paid even if not claiming benefits (contribution based) when I retired but I had no idea, that I could even do that.
Also what about the house? Could it be disregarded even if it been over 6 months since I left, as divorce proceedings have started?
Is there anything I can do even if it's just to get my contributions up to date as I can pay the voluntary ones up to now, but then there is still the next 3 years?
Replies
I don't have enough contributions for my pension as it is. I would need to pay £1800 to bring them up to date for now.
I cared for my children and then had to work part time, due to lack of support at home re childcare etc
I was told that because I would be entitled to SDP I would need to be on the legacy (?!) System.
I am on PIP and mobility
I'm so confused by it all. You get told one thing. I got told by UC on the phone that I would be eligible to have my contributions paid on Tuesday to receive a phone call on Wednesday to say no because I've not paid contributions in the last 2/3 years.
How is anyone meant to navigate this system? Let alone when dealing with abuse and mental health.
I totally understand the savings aspect. I only went with what I was being told to do.
If UC have said no to the claim due to the capital - I would assume that the council has disclosed that information to them
So in essence there isn't anything I can do because I gave away money to my children? I can't claim any benefits?
So I might as well ask for it back as I need it to live on, due to things taking longer with the divorce. I gifted the money a year ago.
I know the contribution ESA doesn't take into account savings - but I have no contributions to use.
I would meet the income based ESA but have the money I gifted counted towards my capital, and potentially my house.
I have some fit notes, from the GP as I cannot work due to my disability. Again I was just claiming PIP because that's what I was told to do.
I can pay voluntarily NI contributions for the last 2 years to bring my pension up, but I don't know what will happen over the next 3 years
@chiarieds yes I've got a solicitor, they've been fairly helpful. And we will be going ahead to court as he's not engaging at the moment.
So the house is capital too.
Although, I've just been reading up on notional capital, but that still won't help me at the moment.
I'll have to pay voluntarily contributions to keep my pension up to date, which will deplete my savings, get my savings back because I'll need them. And fingers crossed the same as many others hope for the best.
Thanks for all the advice. I was pretty sure it was the case I couldnt claim anything, was maybe holding out for abit of case law.
It's not the benefits I want, I wanted my stamp covered. I had no idea that I wouldn't have been covered after retirement and been short. I was so hit by my injury and the effect it had on me, plus the abuse at home, that I had no idea what could happen.
We had mediation this week, I requested separate rooms, but they talked me into going in the same room as him saying it would cost more money and time, so I agreed to that and I really shouldn't have.
He failed to mention to them he works full time, so he offered me the split between our pensions and then £50 a month extra on top. But this is not about the divorce.
Thanks everyone for all the help and advice. I did ask for NI credits this week, they said yes on the phone on Tuesday and rang me Wednesday and said no I'm not eligible to claim.
I'm going to sit down with my children and work some things out.
Thanks again
Scope
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