Paternity Leave for operation recovery?

Fairy_Michelle

I am due to have an op with a semi-long recovery period and my husband has no annual leave left. Any time he takes off work will therefore be unpaid. I do not work and we claim WFTC. He could need anything up to six weeks or more off work. Our three children are aged 16 10 and 3 it is the three year old who needs the most looking after as she only attends nursery for 5 morning sessions a week. Are we entitled to any help during this time? having never been in this position before I really do not know much about this. I dont like to post new threads if I can help it but I did a forum search and could not find any info. Thankyou in advance if anyone can help.
Michelle

hjb123

Has he asked his employers if they would consider paternity or any other form of help? Is there any family or friends in the area that could help?

Fairy_Michelle

His employers are the ones that have said he will have to take unpaid leave. Yes there are family around but not available for 24 hour care. It is the money side of things I am wondering about, I want to know if we can claim any extra benefit while he sis off work?

june1970_2

could you older two not help while your hubby is not around?

Elliebabe

Having an under 8 year old your husband is entitled to time off (not sure how long) but as you say it will be unpaid.

Ring WFTC as they may be able to suggest what you do - your Husband may have to claim Income support for that period!

Savvy_Sue

It may also be worth talking to your health visitor: there may be other forms of help you could get with the 3 yo.

If the 3 yo went into nursery full-time would that help your husband get to work? Don't know if it's possible, just thinking around the situation a bit.

Because really, it seems to me the main need is childcare for a 3 yo: a 10 and 16 yo ought to be able to help enough around the house to make sure no-one starves or runs out of clean underpants! When I was in hospital last year, 13 yo son took over the laundry for several weeks. All boys helped with cooking and could be sent shopping.

I know you need a responsible adult at home for the first week or so post-surgery, don't know how long after that it would be essential.

liuhut

My other half took time off earlier in the year to help me with the kids. From memory I think that he can take a maximum of one month a year and it has to be full weeks, not odd days. Might be worth contacting the WFTC to see if you would be entitled to more money as his earnings for the year would go down if he had a full month off??? Hope the op goes OK.

moo842

your husband will be entitled to parental leave which is unpaid, paternity leaves needs to be used within a certain time of a baby being born and is £100 a week. cAN HE ARRANGE TIME OFF IN LEIU, BY WORKING EXTRA HOURS BEFORE YOUR OP AND NOT CLAIMING THE OVERTIME? sorry didn't mean the caps

SnowyOwl_2

The info by moo about parental leave is probably what your husband's employers have in mind. Painful as it is, it will be unpaid. However it may be worth his looking into other benefits which he may be entitled to, eg carer's allowance if he takes unpaid leave rather than parental leave. NB I don't know if Carer's Allowance actually exists, I am just wondering about other solutions!).

You mentioned that your youngest is the one which requires the most looking after. Is there any way your husband could work part-time, ie during the hours she is in nursery. At least your husband's employers wouldn't lose his services totally for the number of weeks in question. Or could your three year old's nursery hours be extended?

Your 16 year old at least could be asked to do a bit more around the house to help you. Your 10 year old could also be given some simpler tasks to carry out - I was a dab hand with the floor brush, mop, vacuum cleaner and duster at that age.

Best of luck, I hope you work something out, and that you make a speedy recovery.

stardoman

I'm a registered childminder and I'm on a Sure Start list of childminders to provide short term care. If a parent needs childcare for the short term (the max is supposed to be 6 weeks, but it can be extended), then The Early Years team links the parent with a childminder with spaces and Sure Start pay the childminder directly. This service is supposed to be for situations like yours, where foster care and the full weight of social services is not needed, but some extra care is needed for the short term. If you live in a Sure Start area it might be worth contacting Sure Start to see if they have a similar scheme.

Also, try contacting the Early Years Team for your area, as they may have a similar scheme even if you're not in a Sure Start area. The Early Years Team interviewed me for this scheme, so they are obviously involved in the implementation of it.

Hope you manage to sort something out.

Mandy.

cheekymole

Can't help Michelle but just wanted to wish you luck and hope to see you back on here soon