Wife forced to leave work - what benefits are we entitled to?

Scooby_Man

Hi - we have 2 children, 3 and 1. My wife has returned to work after maternity leave but the hours she was originally contracted for wont allow her to look after the children. I have to work away from home weeks on end, so can't contribute on that front. My wife tried to reduce her hours but employer can't accommodate.

She now has to resign and we effectively lose our 2nd income to ensure the kids are looked after.

Are we entitled to any benefits or assistance? She's willing to look for another job (and wants to work), but it will be very difficult to find something that allows spending time with and bringing the kids up....

Any advice will be really helpful, thanks.

bunny999

You might be entitled to child tax credits

krisskross

What did she do for childcare before the 2nd one was born?

Scooby_Man

krisskross wrote: »

What did she do for childcare before the 2nd one was born?

She was able to work the contracted hours, whilst dropping the first one to private nursery. We can longer financially afford this set-up given our current situation. The first one now goes to state-nursery 2 hours a day and the 1 year old needs the usual full-time care.

I spend the day with the kids today as my wife works her notice period - it was such a tough job - picking up and dropping the older one to nursery and then making sure they're fed and entertained...i.e. I don't think there's any job that will allow for working hours to suit this routine!

[Deleted User]

Scooby_Man wrote: »

She was able to work the contracted hours, whilst dropping the first one to private nursery. We can longer financially afford this set-up given our current situation. The first one now goes to state-nursery 2 hours a day and the 1 year old needs the usual full-time care.

I spend the day with the kids today as my wife works her notice period - it was such a tough job - picking up and dropping the older one to nursery and then making sure they're fed and entertained...i.e. I don't think there's any job that will allow for working hours to suit this routine!

If your wife isnt going to be avaliable for work then any benefits will depend on your income(except family allowance)

Scooby_Man

woodbine wrote: »

If your wife isnt going to be avaliable for work then any benefits will depend on your income(except family allowance)

I think this is where we are stuffed because my income is fairly highish, but our disposable income is very low as our mortgage costs are out of the roof and we're paying off other loans...

So nothing takes into account her want to work but it not being possible due to having to look after kids?

cw18

Scooby_Man wrote: »

So nothing takes into account her want to work but it not being possible due to having to look after kids?

The simple answer is - Nope!

cw18

you mention state nursery 2 hours a day.... is this a pre-school nursery (ie. at the school you want elder child to attend from September 2009), with the costs being covered by the 'voucher' system (not sure how it works, other than it's worth around £77 -- and I only know that 'cos my younger GD has just qualified for it) ?

The easiest solution to childcare if that is the case would be to find a child minder near the school, and one who will do the drop-off/pick-up. I know some don't like having to shuttle back and forth in the space of a few hours, but there are plenty around us who will. If they have a couple of spaces they could take both your children, so you/your wife would only have one place to drop-off and pick-up each day.

bunny999

why doesn't she become a child minder ?

Oldernotwiser

Scooby_Man wrote: »

I spend the day with the kids today as my wife works her notice period - it was such a tough job - picking up and dropping the older one to nursery and then making sure they're fed and entertained...i.e. I don't think there's any job that will allow for working hours to suit this routine!

I think you'll find that this is the normal way in which families where both parents work live their lives. Thousands do it!

pandora205

When I returned to work after a period of maternity leave I asked my employer if I could reduce hours for similar reasons (although I only wanted to have school holidays not to finish early). My request was refused.

At that point I contacted my union for advice, who indicated that this was in effect sex discrimination, as this request was only likely be made by a woman and hence the employer should accommodate if possible. A few months before there had been legal precedent set in court and this case was quoted by the union.

When this was presented to my employer they did a U turn and allowed me to work part time. It didn't get as far as a tribunal but I was advised to pursue it. I'm not sure if this would apply in your wife's case but it could be worth investigating if she has a union.