Is an indigent husband obligated to provide for his employed wife who lives in her own home with her family's assistance, or lives with her family until his financial situation improves? And is this maintenance considered a debt upon him?

Wives' maintenance is obligatory upon their husbands, even if they are wealthy, due to the Almighty's saying: (Let a man of wealth spend from his wealth), and due to the Prophet's (PBUH) saying: "You feed her when you eat, and you clothe her when you clothe yourself..." This obligation is conditional on the husband being financially able and capable of providing maintenance. If he is in straitened circumstances and the wife agrees to remain with him, the maintenance obligation falls away due to his inability to provide it, and he is not liable for it even if he later becomes wealthy.