Help with coming of IS, advice needed please?

michellen34

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice please? I'm currently on income support and my youngest starts nursery this year. What I'd like to ask is, are you really better off working? I'm finding it a real struggle with money lately and i'm sick of my kids going without, even basic things for them i can no longer afford (clothes, shoes etc). I seem to living hand to mouth so to speak. I would love to get a job, but I'm so scared of coming off benefits (shocking i know!!) My rent is £570 per month Plus council tax, paying for school dinners, Travel costs, bills , debts etc. My Mam said she'd look after my son if i was working and he wasn't at nursery. What do you think? I need to do something but worried I'll be worse off (plus my landlord is finding it hard and he couldn't wait for his rent, or I'd be out!) Argh! what do i do? I really want to work, it was fine when me and my Oh were together but now I know i need to work, but also want to be there for my son until he is in full time school!

Any advice would be great!

Thanks in advance x

krisskross

How about seeing a lone parent adviser at the Job Centre. I think they can do a comparison for you, tell you what benefits you can expect if you work 16 hours a week. When you have the figures you can make a decision.

Kazzajr

You sound quite determined to do this so firstly well done and good luck.

There is a lot of help available to help you come off IS, you should arrange a meeting with your lone parent advisor at the Jobcentre who should advise you on the best course of action for your circumstances. As a lone parent you would be better off working 16hrs per week, you can get money towards clothes/travel for any interviews and jobs you get some of the help depends on how long you have been on IS.

For a rough idea of how much better off you will be working check https://www.entitledto.co.uk just put in approx figures for income (eg 16hrs@min wage) this will tell you how much HB/CTB/WTC/CTC you should be entitled to. You might still be entitled to help with school meals.

There are also other benefits to working other than the extra money like meeting new people and adult conversation also it will give you a boost to be earning your own money.

michellen34

Hiya, Thank you so much for your help. And yes i know exactly what you mean about adult conversation! lol. I will ring the job centre on Monday ask to speak to someone. I really need this, it's not just the money (but gawd that helps) it's for me too, My oldest is 13 now ( my Oh would never let me work even though he was on a low wage, and i didn't mind i have to admit, i love bieng with my kids), but need to do something with my life!! Been a stay at home mam for years, a bit of me time would be great too! deffinatly ringing on monday, will re-post how i get on. Nervous too its been that long! :eek:

Thank you again,

Michelle.

Kazzajr

Do keep us posted, good luck with it all.

lil_me

It's nerve racking but I am sure you will be fine, good luck!

[Deleted User]

good luck !

emsywoo123

Hi, I came off IS about 3 weeks ago, DD f/t at school, PM me if you have any specific questions I might be able to help with

shjo558

Just wanted to add that you are entitled to a 4 week run on in respect of Housing and Council Tax benefits if you meet the following criteria:-

1 - Income Support in payment for at least 26 consecutive weeks and
2 - Income Support ceased as you have taken remunerative work which is expected to last more than 5 weeks.

Just phone up your Local Authority and tell them that IS has ceased and you want to claim an 'extended payment period'

That gives you enough time to get your first wage etc before your rent needs paid.

happymummy

Yes you are most definitely better off working!
I'm a single mum to 3 kids, my youngest starts P1 after the hols and I've just taken a job in a shop doing 16 hours a week, I'm going to be about £100 a week better off!!
There is a new thing for lone parents coming off IS and going into work, as weel as the job grant (a one off payment of £250) they are giving you £40 a week for up to a year! Thats on top of everything else, ctc, wtc, HB etc. The criteria are you have to have been claiming IS for at least a year and get a job doing 16 hours a week or more and your job has to last more than 5 weeks. Also as someone has already mentioned they pay your HB and CTB for 4 weeks after you start your job to give you a chance to settle into it.
Definitely speak to your lone parent advisor, thats what they are there for and they can show you exactly how much better off you'd be even if you only did 16 hours on minimum wage!

HTH

Good luck!!

Elle00

michellen34 wrote: »

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice please? I'm currently on income support and my youngest starts nursery this year. What I'd like to ask is, are you really better off working?

Hi, I wasn't better off working when I worked full-time on a moderate admin wage as I paid childcare for an under 2, commuted to work and lived in a flat with extortionate rent. But I could have been financially better off under different circumstances (ie no commuting costs, cheaper rent or child at school - all three would have left me £250pm better off!).

Before that I had been working 16hrs a week, at minimum wage, at a shop five minutes from my flat. At that time I was about £22 a week better off than on full benefits (after paying the childminder).

Your little one probably still needs you before and after school so obviously a part time job during school hours would suit. It would also save on childcare costs which add up to a lot more than you realise even at the 20% rate.

It's also a good idea to think about the costs involved with any jobs you apply for. You can't afford to go commuting realistically unless it's a cheap bus journey away (or you can earn a really high wage above and beyond tax credits) and you need to think about uniform or work clothes, lunches etc too.

If you're careful and you take the time to find the right job then you could be much better off.