Lone parent/IS changes to JSA

pendart

I am a lone parent currently on IS due to my youngest becoming seven in december I will no longer be entitled to IS and have to claim jsa with the usual conditions of finding work/benefit stopping applies. My problem with this is the school holidays. Not many employers (except schools ) would let you have sixteen weeks holiday a year and keep your job open. I would receive help with childcare but I do not wish my children to go into childcare. My eldest is ten and not legally able to be responsible for my seven yr old. I am willing to work but would want to be able to take kids to school/pick them up and look after them in school hols. I feel as though it is harder to find work within school hours, there aren't many options open and signing on while I have young children is ridiculous even making appointments for me at 2.40pm exactly when I have to pick my children up from school? If you are in the same situation please let me know. I do not have parents willing to help with childcare which is how all my friends get by in holidays/while working.

KimYeovil

If you are not willing to use childcare then you will have to forgo benefits and find some other way of funding yourself. You can do what anyone else who can only be bothered to work part-time does - you will have to save up over the thirty-six weeks of the year you do work to cover the holidays. Simple.

Mupette

Ignore the nastiness



I'm a single mum.

There are alternatives to childcare, there are after school clubs for your children.
I didn't have help with childcare from family either, but i did have to make a choice which was i to either find work that worked around the children's school hours, or get help and have childcare, its paid for with working tax credits.

I know you don't want to use childcare, but for you to get on with life, i would reconsider it, your children will benefit from it, playing with other kids for a few hours whilst they wait for you.

It just a choice of rethinking your values to suit all.
You know you can't live off benefits until the kids leave school, and now adays there is so much help out there that you really don't need to, you just need to change your mindset. Good luck

DaisyFlower

You may have to change your ideals then, your children are not babies and childcare will not harm them.

Part of being a parent means financially supporting your family and you are extremely lucky not to have to work at present.

It will give your children a work ethic if they see you working which will instal good morals in them for the future.

Oldernotwiser

Most two parent families don't have the luxury of refusing to use childcare when their children are this age, so I think that you are being unreasonable in this.

Your children will soon be in their teens so you really need to start laying at least a foundation for your future career or else you'll never be able to come off benefits..

bunny999

If you are not available for work then you shouldn't claim JSA - this would be fraud.

elisebutt65

Never mind not being willing to put your kids into childcare - I'm not willing to pay for you to sit on your bum all day whilst your kids are at school!

I'm a single mum and my kids have been in childcare since the eldest was 8 weeks old. When I wasn't working, then I was at Uni. If there is a club attached to the school then they don't usually cost too much and as long as you work over 16 hours a week then you get back 85% of the cost anyway.

I don't get paid at all in the holidays and it has been suggested that I sign on during that time but instead WTC have worked my payments out for working term time only so I get it continually through the year so at list the priority bills get paid and then I save up through the term to make sure I have enough to live on between July and October.

Besides - what else are you going to do? It's blooming boring on my days off when the kids are both out and I've done all the housework.

Yo could always look into going to college or Uni - you get Adult Learning Allowance or student loan/Lone Parent allowance if you do a degree and then youngest will be at secondary by the time you graduate so no worries as they are old enough to come home on their own. My eldest (15 next monty) is quite happy to stay home in the holidays unless he stays at my mum's or his Dads place for a couple of weeks.

Where the dad in your equation? Can't he help with childcare?

clairec79

There are places (most public sector for a start) which will allow for term time only contracts and your wages spread out over 12 months

BOBS

I wasnt prepared to put my own kids into childcare as wanted to be there for them to do homeworks and to take them to and from school so I took the choice to register and become a childminder - it really is best of both worlds - I am earning while still being here for my own 3 children - yes it still is a compromise as they have to share me - but one that works for me. It also means because I am at home two other mothers can go out to work.
It isnt an option for everyone but maybe something to consider.

maxmycardagain

The OP was asking for advice, if she wanted to sit on the dole/benefits she wouldnt need to ask would she, but i dont see much advice, are you all having PMT?

OP, I have no experience of JSA, except it is for those seeking work, I know nothing of your work experience or qualifications, i dont know if you hold a driving licence, etc.

what i DO know is that being a single parent is hard (being a single DAD with 2 girls was even harder, trust me)

you cannot be penalised if you get turned down for jobs in the current climate, your childcare costs would be 70% covered by WFTC, if you can find a childminder/creche/after school club, etc.

can you find work WITHIN the education system to tie-in with term times, teaching assistant, dinner ladies, etc, etc,

can you find work PT between 09.30am and 3.30pm?

good luck, im sure you will sort it out

Oldernotwiser

maxmycardagain wrote: »

The OP was asking for advice, if she wanted to sit on the dole/benefits she wouldnt need to ask would she, but i dont see much advice, are you all having PMT?

The OP has received some good advice and many posters are male!